The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden that has been approved to export containers directly to the USA. The security stipulations are extremely strict and special CSI classification is required. Only a small number of ports throughout the world have been granted this classification.
Following the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, new internationally binding rules were introduced for trade with the USA. A small number of ports became designated customs stations for the USA, of which Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden.
"For containers to be exported directly to the USA they need to pass through a CSI port. Here in Sweden it is the Swedish Customs that have been certified to the same level as its US equivalent, US Customs and Border Protection," says Thomas Fransson, Senior Security Manager at the Port of Gothenburg.
When the control procedures are implemented in the export countries instead of at ports in the USA, inflow into the USA is made easier and waiting times are reduced. The controls mean, among other things, that certain containers are selected for x-ray examination.
"This makes it possible to see exactly what is inside the container, after which it can be classed as safe for shipping," says Thomas Fransson.
It means a great deal for Sweden to have a port that is approved for the export of containers to the USA as it facilitates Swedish transatlantic exports. For the Port of Gothenburg it means that the port becomes a hub in the Scandinavian container handling system for the US ports.
American customs officials work at the vast majority of CSI ports. Part of their work involves identifying risk containers that are to be checked. At the Port of Gothenburg, approximately 400 containers pass through the CSI system each week, of which the risk containers are scanned.
The USA is Sweden's sixth largest export trading partner.
Following the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, new internationally binding rules were introduced for trade with the USA. A small number of ports became designated customs stations for the USA, of which Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden.
"For containers to be exported directly to the USA they need to pass through a CSI port. Here in Sweden it is the Swedish Customs that have been certified to the same level as its US equivalent, US Customs and Border Protection," says Thomas Fransson, Senior Security Manager at the Port of Gothenburg.
When the control procedures are implemented in the export countries instead of at ports in the USA, inflow into the USA is made easier and waiting times are reduced. The controls mean, among other things, that certain containers are selected for x-ray examination.
"This makes it possible to see exactly what is inside the container, after which it can be classed as safe for shipping," says Thomas Fransson.
It means a great deal for Sweden to have a port that is approved for the export of containers to the USA as it facilitates Swedish transatlantic exports. For the Port of Gothenburg it means that the port becomes a hub in the Scandinavian container handling system for the US ports.
American customs officials work at the vast majority of CSI ports. Part of their work involves identifying risk containers that are to be checked. At the Port of Gothenburg, approximately 400 containers pass through the CSI system each week, of which the risk containers are scanned.
The USA is Sweden's sixth largest export trading partner.