The container security initiative (CSI) programme that will see US Customs officers stationed at local ports to check US -bound cargo is expected to take-off by the year end.

Selangor Customs director Datuk Wazir Muaz said a group of Customs officials from America was scheduled to arrive in the country at the end of this month.

"They are supposed to brief us on the details and requirements in preparation for the CSI, such as how many officers they are sending, the kinds of equipment needed and so forth." Wazir said a couple of weeks ago, US Customs assistant customs attaché Peter R Darvas who is based in Singapore had met with local Customs officials.

"It looks like the CSI is on the way and we expect it to be implemented in the country by the end of the year."The US-led project focuses on the inspection of containers being shipped to America to ensure they do not contain weapons of mass destruction and dirty bombs, following the Sept 11 terror attacks.

The threat of violence and destruction by terrorist-sympathetic groups has again become imminent with the bombing of a luxury hotel in Jakarta that killed 13 people and wounded more than 100 last week.

Although there had initially been some uncertainty as to whether Malaysia would participate in the programme, the government has agreed to allow US Customs to be placed at local ports.

Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas have already indicated they are prepared to take on the CSI and were equipped with container scanning machines and enhanced security measures.

They were currently awaiting word from the Malaysian Customs and US counterparts to start the plan.Among the nations already on board were France, Belgium, Britain, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand and Japan.

On another matter, Wazir said a task force had been formed comprising representatives from Port Klang Authority, forwarding agents, Northport and Westport to facilitate inter-terminal transfer (ITT) between both terminals.

The committee is looking into ways to link data of both Northport and Westport with regards to submission of Customs information, as currently both terminals do not have common systems that enable easy connection of records.

A meeting is scheduled to be held this week to finalize the procedures involved and decide on the implementation. In the past, shipping lines calling Port Klang had raised concerns that there still existed several obstacles preventing the smooth flow of boxes between both terminals.

OOCL(M) Sdn Bhd managing director Richard Hew had said for ITT from Northport to Westport, shipping lines still had to give 48 hours advance notification of their planning to the terminal and needed to submit all Customs documentation 24 hours ahead.

"As customers of Port Klang, we are concerned about this. Lines don't wan to be in a situation where we will be stuck at one terminal with no choices," he said, adding that the terminals should work as one.