First post-quake cargo cleared in US

U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave global shipping line APL an all-clear here last week for the first shipment of containerised cargo from post-earthquake Japan.  

According to Customs, technicians conducted radiation tests on 355 containers discharged at the Port of Los Angeles from the vessel APL Korea.  All containers were cleared for delivery to locations throughout the U.S.  It was the first test of Japanese exports since the 11 March earthquake in Japan damaged nuclear reactors and raised radiation exposure concerns.

“Customs and Border Protection implemented proactive measures to screen the first cargo ship to arrive from Japan since the event,” said a statement from the Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport.  “No harmful levels of radiation were found.”

The ship arrived 22 March at 5.15 a.m.  By 11.45 a.m., technicians had completed their pier-side scanning.

APL is a global container shipping business offering more than 60 weekly services and more than 500 calls at more than 140 ports worldwide. It combines world-class intermodal operations with leading-edge IT and e-commerce. APL is a unit of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global shipping and logistics company.