NYK APPLIES TO JOIN CUSTOMS-TRADE SECURITY PROGRAM

NYK APPLIES TO JOIN CUSTOMS-TRADE SECURITY PROGRAM    NYK has applied to join the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, a U.S. Customs initiative.
   NYK has been a participant in the Carrier Initiative Program, which helped to develop the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), since its inception. C-TPAT is a government-business program intended to tighten supply chain security through building relationships between industry and the government.
   “The C-TPAT will be one of the principle vehicles we will use to review and upgrade NYK’s security procedures,” said Kinichi Hirayama, chairman and chief executive officer of NYK Line (North America) Inc.
   NYK said that it is one of the first carriers to apply for entry into the C-TPAT program.
   Last week, the World Shipping Council, a Washington, D.C.-based organization representing 40 liner shipping companies, said that its member lines intend to join C-TPAT.
   NYK said that the program is “one of many critical steps to align our industry and solidify our determination to minimize the threat of terrorism and to assure safe, viable, and efficient transportation services to the world economy.”
   The Japanese group recently formed a senior management committee to review all elements of security at all NYK companies in North America. It said that it has already implemented changes to its security programs throughout the world in response to smuggling, piracy, and stowaways.
   NYK, a member of the Grand Alliance, also said that it will be closely coordinating with its alliance partners to align security procedures and bring them into compliance with the C-TPAT framework.