News Releases in 2008
January 7, 2008
Passing Reexamination by U.S. Customs
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK; head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; president: Koji Miyahara) safely passed a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) reexamination, the first Japanese shipping company to do so. It earned a renewal of its certification. C-TPAT is a public and private agreement promoted by the U.S. Customs Service to improve supply chain security. NYK has participated in it since 2002.
The reexamination is a regular requirement for C-TPAT partner companies under the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), as passed by the U.S. Congress. Among other purposes, the act is designed to improve maritime and cargo security through layered defenses. CBP unilaterally exams C-TPAT partners in the field, testing them for C-TPAT requirements such as security measures and their proper implementation and regulation.
This reexamination was applied to NYK LINE (Thailand) Co., Ltd., an NYK affiliate company in Thailand, and Thai Laemchabang Terminal Co., Ltd., which provides terminal services to NYK container vessels at Thailand's Laem Chabang International Terminal. Of the examination criteria, the following four received the highest possible rating and NYK as a whole received high evaluations from U.S. Customs.
- NYK originally created an identity-confirmation checklist and conducts investigations based on it. At the same time, NYK refers to registration numbers issued by the Ministry of Commerce in Thailand. This procedure enables NYK sales teams to thoroughly comprehend the information of new customers.
- NYK exchanges diplomatic memoranda with NVOCCs (non-vessel operating common carriers) regarding thorough notification about new customers.
- NYK conducts sufficient examinations of relevant companies, including truck transportation companies, container ship repair companies, and feeder service providers. It also holds monthly meetings with those companies to ensure their compliance with safety standards.
- NYK conducts C-TPAT training sessions for internal and external business partners.
As a comprehensive logistics company, NYK is committed to continuing to ensure the end-to-end security of its supply chain.
