US bound container to be inspected from this November

Container inspections for cargoes to the U.S are to be inspected from this November.
On August 29, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) and the Customs Service considered examining cargoes loaded in Pusan for whether they contain explosives; inspections will be conducted in connection with the Container Security Initiative (CSI) which the US has driven for to prevent terror in 20 shipping countries all over the world including Korea.
The Customs Service held a series of meetings with shipping companies and container terminal operators from PECT, U-am terminal and Hutchison. The service uses three gamma rays tools received this September in order to inspect inbound cargoes for US bound freight loaded in the Port of Pusan.
However, port operation companies and shipping companies are fiercely opposing the examination of outbound cargoes and as of yet have not signed off on the CSI. They cite additional costs due to interruption of logistic flows as a major reason.
“Though the Customs Service had asked companies about examining outbound container cargoes to the US, many responded strongly negative with discussions being suspended for now,” said one company official. The Customs Service official also revealed that there was nothing to be confirmed in relation with equipment usage though they did understand the companies’ opinions on the CSI.
In the meantime, US Ambassador to Korea, Thomas Hubbard, and US Customs manager of economic cooperation, Donald Shruhan, requested the Korean government sign the CSI as soon as possible.