• CBSA Introduces Progressive Examinations Model Pilot at Port of Vancouver Terminals

Thursday, April 14th, 2016

The Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) is introducing a new pilot project for container examinations. The progressive examination model or PEM is being introduced to minimize the use of the most intrusive examination method (full de-stuff), to identify successes and/or challenges and address ahead of the opening of the new MCEFs and to provide information for the development of the PEM model, including the identification of further potential efficiencies and possible mitigation ranges.

The pilot is being introduced at the port of Vancouver as it is a high risk port that receives 57 percent of more than 2.5 million marine containers entering Canada each year. The current MCEF is the smallest in Canada, the facility is deteriorating and it no longer meets current and forecasted volumes. There is also no possibility of it being expanded or accommodate innovative detection technology.

The PEM will use a multi-layered approach to mitigating risk by only referring cargo for the most-intrusive method (full de-stuff) when risks cannot be mitigated by less intrusive methods (e.g., new state of the art technology in dedicated on-dock space such as Large Scale Imaging (LSI)

The Government of Canada is committed to invest in new cargo examination facilities to increase examination capacity. In the future, the Port of Vancouver will replace the current outdated MCEF with two new MCEFs (Roberts Bank and Burrard Inlet locations).

The PEM pilot will begin April 18, 2016 at the following Terminals:

• Centerm
• Vanterm
• Deltaport

The initial testing will be for a period of eight weeks.