When all else fails go with plan B, that could be the way of thinking at the Fairview Container Port. An on site bonded warehouse facility required for examination of containers of interest, will not be ready in time for the expected fall opening of the Terminal, but with alternate facilities off site already acquired it should be a seamless opening for container traffic through the Port of Prince Rupert.
The Monday edition of the Daily News had details on the delays and the importance of the planned facility.
BONDED WAREHOUSE WILL NOT BE READY ON TIME: PORT
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, July 9, 2007
Pages one and three
The bonded warehouse facility planned for Ridley Island won’t be constructed in time to open alongside the Fairview Container Terminal; however, the Prince Rupert Port Authority said an alternative site has been found where containers can be searched.
Speaking at the port corporation’s annual meeting on Thursday, Don Krusel said an alternate site will be urged by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Quickload Terminals until such time as the Prince Rupert Container Examination Facility is completed.
“It’s a little bit behind,” said Don Krusel, president and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.
“We have a fall back position where they are looking at another site, a warehouse where they would be able to start the operation when required. There will be a Canada customs inspection facility available.”
There will be numerous levels of security at the new Fairview Container Port the bonded warehouse on Ridley Island is just one aspect of the security duties that will be performed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Krusel said that the CBSA has to have a complete manifest of any container vessel’s contents before it enters Canadian waters.
From that manifest, certain containers of interest are identified for closer inspection.
Some will go through an X-Ray machine at the port, while others will be taken to the bonded warehouse and physically unpacked.
“Every container that moves through this terminal will go through a radiation detector. We have three radiation detection portals being constructed at the terminal,” he said.
The perimeter of the terminal will be secured so no one will be able to gain access or egress from the site without passing through security.
“If there are any individuals on containers coming in and they get to the terminal, in the past this has happened (at other terminals) they have gotten out of the container and walked off the terminal,” said Krusel. “You wouldn’t be able to walk off this terminal without being identified.”
The port is in the process of installing state-of-the-art equipment but will not reveal the specifics because of security concerns.
“I will get in trouble if I start explaining it in too much detail but I can tell you, the entire port will be able to be observed and monitored at all times,’ he said.
There will also be security gates installed in the next few months at the entrance to port lands, on Ridley Island. However, Krusel said the gates will not be a major issue during normal operations.
The port will have three levels of security awareness. At the first level, or during normal operations, the gates will be open.
“As soon as we get to the second level, we have to be able to secure the entire property and only those people with proper clearance will be able to get through the security gates,” he said.
He stressed security is important to ensuring the port’s success and locals do have a role to play.
“Security is everybody’s business,” he said. “We can have electronic eyes and ears but nothing beats the human eyes and ears. We will continually throughout the process, talk about how it’s important for the community to be our eyes and ears in the community and on the waterfront.
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