Will Scanning Ocean Containers make us safe?

The short answer is no.

After 9/11, all of the U.S. wanted to make our country safe.

One of the less bright ideas was to scan all the ocean containers coming into the U.S., prior to their departure at the foreign port.

Having worked in international shipping for a number of years, I can say this is one of the dumbest ideas put in place.

First of all, what would they really be looking for? Supposedly trained professionals looking at baggage miss half the stuff they should find - you know things like guns and knives. How can someone look at a container full of "department store merchandise" (which is the description of the contents of many containers), and have any idea what might be dangerous to the American public.

In a Lloyd's List article it states they don't expect it to be repealed, but at the best, delayed past it's 2012 implementation date. Hopefully by then our representatives will listen to those with experience, and cancel this new mandate.

Perhaps, someone will even read this blog post.