Speeches

CSI SCANNER UNVEILING CEREMONY

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador John D. Rood

at the Freeport Container Port
Freeport, Grand Bahama

January 11, 2007 

Prime Minister Christie, invited guests and members of the media, good morning and welcome to this ceremonial unveiling of the cargo container scanning system for the Container Security Initiative. 

Encouraging global commerce and protecting this commerce from the threats of terrorism are among President Bush’s highest priorities.  Nearly 90 percent of the world’s manufactured goods move via ocean-going cargo containers.  Protecting this flow of commerce from terrorists is the goal of the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

CSI represents a joint effort of our two governments to ensure that the Freeport Container Port is never used to transport weapons of mass destruction.  It is one of a series of cooperative initiatives that enhances our mutual security and contributes to our mutual economic well being.        
  
CSI provides a security regime to ensure that all containers that pose a potential risk for terrorism are identified and screened.  A sophisticated automated system identifies high-risk containers.  These containers are then scanned for weapons of mass destruction by a Mobile Cargo Scanner.  If questions about the containers contents remain, the container is opened and physically inspected by Bahamian Customs officials. 

Implementation of CSI provides benefits to both the United States and the Bahamas.  The United States receives assurances that containers passing through CSI ports are screened for weapons of mass destruction prior to entering the U.S.
  
The Bahamas benefits as CSI provides a competitive advantage to the Freeport Container Port by allowing containers shipped to quickly enter into commerce in the United States. 

Once a screened container arrives in the U.S., it can exit a U.S. port without further delay.  Containers not screened before reaching the U.S. often must wait days if not weeks before they can be released into commerce.  This quick turnaround of CSI screened containers provides an incentive to shippers to move their containers through Freeport.  This should, in turn, provide more jobs to Bahamians as more and more shippers take advantage of Freeport’s proximity to the U.S. and the benefits of CSI. 

Together with the Megaports Initiative, a U.S. Department of Energy program that today screens more than 90 percent of the cargo containers at the Freeport Container Port, CSI makes this container port one of the must secure and efficient ports in the world for the transshipment of containers to the United States.

The Prime Minister and I just had the opportunity to watch the Mobile Cargo Inspection System in action.  The scanner drives by a cargo container that has been identified as suspicious and examines the contents using x-rays.  The scanner is designed to pass rapidly by the container to be scanned, so as not to disrupt operations in the port. The scan we just witnessed covered three containers and took less than five minute.  Since the program’s inception in December 2006, 245 containers have been scanned and 5 containers physically inspected following inconclusive scans.  While not specifically designed as a law enforcement tool, CSI scans allow officials to see if weapons or other contraband is being transported in cargo containers.  In cases where contraband is located the appropriate Bahamian law enforcement officials are notified. 
       

CSI represents a significant investment by the United States government in Freeport.  The mobile scanner alone costs nearly $3 million.  This does not include the costs of personnel and equipment required to operate CSI.  The Bahamian government and Hutchison Port Holdings have also made significant investments.  Bahamian Customs officials have been fully trained in the CSI program and are responsible for all aspects of the program other than driving the scanner.  These officials are involved in reviewing container manifests, identifying suspicious containers, interpreting the results of the scan and determining whether or not a physical inspection of a container is required.  


Hutchison Port Holding provided the facilities to house the scanner and the U.S. and Bahamian personnel who will operate it and oversee the program.  This is truly a partnership that makes both of our countries safer and more prosperous. 

As you all know, I will soon conclude my term as Ambassador to the Bahamas.  I am proud to have played a role in bringing CSI to Freeport.  Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your country’s commitment to CSI. 

Thank you all for joining us today and helping us mark this significant new advancement in Bahamian-U.S. security cooperation.