Gulf firm is first international port operator to be certified for security by U.S.
ABU DHABI — A leading Gulf firm in the United Arab Emirates whose plans to operate six U.S. ports was last year rebuffed by Congress, has been
certified as a partner in a U.S. port security program.
The state-owned Dubai Ports World has been certified as a partner in the
Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism. DP World underwent a successful
audit that determined the company met international ISO 28000 security
standards required by C-TPAT.
In 2007, DP abandoned plans to purchase a British company that operated
six major ports in the United States, Middle East Newsline reported. Congress was opposed to a state-owned
UAE company having direct access to U.S. ports.
Executives said DP World has become the only international port operator
certified by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. They said the certification
would ensure improved standards throughout the company's 44 terminals.
"We are proud to be part of the C-TPAT initiative and to have achieved
certification for all our terminals," DP World chief executive officer
Mohammed Sharaf said.
"It is recognition once again of our commitment to
maintaining and managing high levels of security standards, procedures and
processes at our terminals, which in turn contributes to international
efforts to secure the global supply chain. We regard security as a baseline
service for our customers."
DP World has also joined the U.S. Government's Container Security
Initiative. The initiative mandated a U.S. Customs presence in 14 DP World
terminals that sends containers to the United States.
Executives said the shelving of the acquisition by DP World has not
dampened the company's intention to participate in U.S. port security
program. They said the company was helping develop and adopt container
scanning and tracking technology.
DP World was also participating in the Secure Freight Initiative pilot
program. The company was testing containers for nuclear and radioactive
material in two of its terminals, Southampton, England and Karachi,
Pakistan.
