Keeping the Port Safe
Safety Officer Tells All

October 4, 2005 : Port Security Official, Pam Zarask, gave an informative talk about the safety story at the Port of Charleston, which is the 4th largest port in the USA and the 2nd largest on the East Coast. Each day over 15,000 containers are brought into Charleston. Operating as the Custom Border Patrol, Zarask’s organization is the largest branch of the Department of Homeland Security. Its task is to handle all evaluations and be a clearing house for people and goods. At the same time the agency dares not choke the legitimate flow of goods so as to disrupt the economy. The operation has several key phases:

The 24 hour rule prohibits any container from entering Charleston that had not been on a lading manifest for 24 hours.

A National Target Center, based in Washington, DC does an analysis of shipping.

An Auto Targeting System identifies all high risk goods, based upon prior intelligence and insures that said goods are inspected.

The Automated Commercial Environment provides enhanced detection and analysis of cargo.

A non intrusive inspection system provides radiant detection devices, both large and small. Key containers are x-rayed and the back door opened. In general trucks can roll right through the detection system without stopping. An international agreement of 37 ports, which will soon expand to 70 provides world wide inspections. This venture is a combination of private companies and the CBP.

Specialized training of agents is done in collaboration with the Coast Guard and includes both basic and advanced training.

The bottom line is “TRUST BUT VERIFY”.

In response to a questions as to how often the Charleston group has found something wrong, Zarask responded:

There have been 15 container seizures in 2005
8 million dollars in fines have been levied
Some irregularity occurs 2 to 3 times per week.

Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee