Logistics, Trade Administration and Supply Chain

Sea carriers must have written and verifiable procedures for the screening of carrier's agents and other service providers contracted to provide transportation services for the carrier. Sea carriers also must have screening procedures for new customers, beyond financial soundness issues to include indicators of whether the customer appears to be a legitimate business and/or posses a security risk. Sea carriers shall also have procedures to review their customer's requests that could affect the safety of the vessel or the cargo or otherwise raise significant security questions, including unusual customer demands, such as specific stowage placement onboard the vessel (beyond a request for below deck or on deck stowage). Security procedures Sea carriers must have written or web-based procedures for screening of new customers to whom they issue bills of lading, which identify specific factors or practices, the presence of which would trigger additional scrutiny by the sea ...

Sea carriers must conduct a comprehensive assessment of their security practices based on the C-TPAT minimum security criteria. Where a sea carrier does not control a specific element of the cargo transportation service it has contracted to provide, such as a marine terminal operator or a time chatered vessel with whom it has contracted, the sea carrier must work with these business partners to seek to ensure that pertinent security measures are in place and adhered to. The sea carrier is responsible for exercising prudent oversight for all cargo loaded on board its vessel, pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations and terms of this program. C-TPAT recognizes the complexity of the international supply chains and security practices and endorses the application and implementation of security measures based upon risk. Therefore, the program also allows for flexibility and the customization of security plans based on the member's business model or requirements. Security me...

The contracting of management and/or execution of a business or operational function to an external third party contractor or sub-contractor. Outsourcing can refer to either a product or service but most commonly refers to services. Outsourcing has been a feature of the business world for hundreds of years and it is simply a typical modernised term for "contracting out". Note that the business or operational function can be outsourced to either a domestic or foreign third party contractor. The key factor here is that the service be performed by an external third party contractor, not simply by a department or division of the same company. Benefits of outsourcing: the acquisition of specialized services required on a limited or temporary basis; quick solution to a temporary overload work or task; ability to concentrate on the organization's focus on its core competencies; potential to save money. Almost any business or operational function can be outsourced,...