First post-quake cargo cleared in U.S.

LOS ANGELES, MARCH 24, 2011: U.S. Customs and Border Protection gave global shipping line APL an all-clear here this week for the first shipment of containerized 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 a March 11 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 March 22 at 5:15 a.m.  By 11:45 a.m., technicians had completed their pier-side scanning.

Source: APL