MSC Seal Security

Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

Seal Security

6.1 CORE
 CTPAT members MUST have detailed, written, high-security sealing
procedures that describe how seals are issued and controlled in:
 installations
 during transit
PROCESSES &
PROCEDURES

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6.1 CORE
 Procedures MUST provide steps to follow if a seal is found to be
altered, tampered with, or has an incorrect seal number to
include event documentation, partner communication protocols,
and incident investigation.

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6.1 CORE (continued)

 Investigation findings MUST be documented, and corrective
actions MUST be implemented as quickly as possible.
 These written procedures MUST be maintained at the local
operating level so that they're easily accessible.

 Procedures MUST be reviewed at least annually and

updated as necessary.

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6.1 CORE (continued)

Written seal checks MUST include the following items:
 Access control to stamps:  Seals broken in transit:
 Management of the seals is restricted to authorized  If the cargo is examined - write down the replacement seal number.
personnel.
 The driver MUST immediately notify dispatch when a seal is
 Secure storage broken, indicate who broke it, and provide the new seal number.
 Inventory, distribution and monitoring (seal registration):  The carrier MUST immediately notify the sender, manufacturer,
 Registration of the receipt of new seals. customs broker and importer of the seal change and the
 Issuance of seals recorded in the registry. replacement seal number.
 Track seals through the registry.  The sender MUST record the replacement seal number in the seal
register.
 Only trained and authorized personnel can affix seals to
Instruments of International Traffic (IIT).  Seal discrepancies:
 Control of seals in transit:  Keep any seal found to be altered or tampered with to aid
investigation.
 When picking up the sealed IIT (or after being detained),
verify that the seal is intact with no signs of tampering.  Investigate the discrepancy; follow up with corrective measures (if
justified).
 Confirm that the seal number matches what is stated on
the shipping documents.  As appropriate, report compromised seals to CBP and the
appropriate foreign government to assist in the investigation.

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6.2 CORE
 All CTPAT shipments that can be sealed MUST be insured
immediately after loading / stuffing / packing by the responsible party
(i.e., the sender or packer acting on behalf of the sender) with a
high-security seal that meets or exceeds the most current
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17712 standard
for high-security seals. Qualifying cable and bolt seals are
acceptable.
 All seals used MUST be securely and properly attached to
instruments of international traffic that transport CTPAT members'
cargo to / from the United States.

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6.2 CORE

'H'

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6.2 Implementation guide

The high-security seal used should be placed in the
Secure Cam position, if available, instead of the right
door handle. The seal should be placed at the bottom
of the center most vertical bar of the right container
door. Alternatively, the seal could be placed in the
center of the left / left-hand lock handle on the right
container door if the secure cam position is not
available. If a bolt seal is used, it is recommended that
the bolt seal be positioned with the barrel portion or
inserted upward with the barrel portion on top of the
bolt.

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6.3 HC/LH/3PL
 Carriers not carrying a full load, dairy trip or consolidated load
(LTL), must (at a minimum) use a high-security lock when
picking up local cargo in an international LTL environment
where consolidation centers are not used.
 At the last loading point before crossing the border, the carrier
must seal the cargo with a high-security seal that complies
with ISO 17712.
 LTL carriers must have strict regulations that limit access to
locks, keys, or combinations that can open the locks.

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6.4 AIR
 In cases where cargo is not transported in a Unit Load Device (ULD),
security methods MUST be implemented to ensure, to the greatest
extent possible, that the cargo is tamper-resistant and/or evident.

6.4 Implementation guide

Any packaged IIT that can be sealed must be sealed. Some packed instruments of international traffic
cannot be sealed, such as flatbed trailers, and other modes of transportation may vary with certain
types that can be sealed and others that cannot. If a tank container has openings that can be sealed,
they must be sealed, and the party that fills the container is responsible for sealing it. When cargo is
transported through sealable air cargo / IIT containers such as unit load devices (ULDs), high-security
seals must be used.

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6.5 CORE
 CTPAT members (who maintain seal inventories) must be able to
document that the high-security seals used meet or exceed the
most current ISO 17712 standard.
6.5 Implementation guide
An acceptable proof of compliance is a
copy of a laboratory test certificate
showing compliance with the ISO
standard for high-security seals.

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6.6 CORE
 Company management or a security supervisor should conduct seal
audits, including a periodic inventory of stored seals and
reconciliation against seal inventory logs and shipping documents.
All audits must be documented.

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6.7 AIR/EXP/FM/IMP/RAIL/HC/LH/3PL/CON
 The CTPAT seal verification process must be followed to ensure that all high-
security seals (bolt or cable) have been properly attached to Instruments of
International Traffic and are operating as designed. It is known as the VVTT
process:
 V - View seal and closing mechanisms of the container and make sure they are
good;
 V - Verify seal number against cargo documents to verify their accuracy;
 T - Tug seal to make sure it is positioned correctly;
 T - Twist and turn the bolt seal to ensure its components do not unscrew or separate
from each other, and that no part of the seal is loose.

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6.7 Implementation guide

When applying cable seals, they should wrap around the metal rectangular base
of the vertical bars to prevent any up or down movement of the seal. Once the
seal is applied, make sure all slack has been removed from both sides of the
cable. The VVTT process for cable seals should ensure that cables are taut. Once
the seal has been properly applied, the cable should be pulled to determine if
there is any slippage of the cable in the locking (latch) piece.

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6.7 Implementation guide

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Questions/Discussion

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Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003