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NO
1– 2009
HIGHEST STANDARDS IN FINE ART SHIPPING
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Advice from our Members |
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As
aviation security is becoming increasingly stringent we surveyed some
member companies about what they can do to ease the way through the
local airport security maze for couriers with sensitive hand-carry
shipments. As always the results varied from country to country. One
thing all our members had to say was make sure the courier knows what
to expect before they leave on their trip. It is good to arrange a
private room for inspection but if the courier is not aware of this
arrangement it can be an unsettling experience for them, to say the
least!
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| Israel |
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During
the past year we have done quite a few hand-carry shipments,
some of them not only valuable but also very sensitive
and fragile, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls.
For
export from Israel, if we have proper documents (Pre-customs
clearance) including a letter from the lending institution
that explains the sensitivity of the objects, we can then
arrange for special VIP services for each hand-carry shipment.
This service includes escorting the courier through security
inspection in a separate, private room. This way we are
able to avoid normal x-ray screening on export hand-carry
shipments.
On
Import shipments the same procedure applies. Our VIP service
escorts the hand-carry shipment with the courier from
the airplane door, while our customs broker is waiting
at the Customs station with the pre-customs documents
and a letter from the institute. This way the Customs
Officer will then sign the import documents without physically
screening the shipment.
Avi
Ganon, Art & Exhibition Manager
Globus International Packing, Shipping & Moving
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| Japan |
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In Japan
it is not possible for the forwarder to make any special security
arrangements for hand-carry shipments coming into or going
out of the country.
We can
arrange pre-clearance through customs but the courier must
deal with the normal security system.
Yoshi
Shiraishi, Art & Exhibition General Manager
Katolec Corporation
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| USA |
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can't answer for all airports in the USA but this is how it
works here at SFO (San Francisco International Airport). It
would be similar at other airports in the US.
Arrangements
are typically made ahead of time with the supervisor who handles
the Screening department. We would inform the Supervisor of
the time and type of shipment we are expecting, as well as
the fragility of the object involved. We discuss the type
of screening that will be required and make sure that we are
all in agreement as to what will happen at the time of security
screening. This ensures that airport staff are informed and
prepared to provide the necessary special handling, thereby
eliminating any delays or problems for the courier.
It is important
to make sure that the courier knows what to expect when they
go through security as there are multiple screening methods
available ranging from x-ray and explosive trace detection
to physical unpacking and inspection.
For all
shipments it is a good idea to prepare the packing using foam
core boxes with Velcro or strap closures. These make it much
easier to pack and repack if required by airport security
or customs.
Greg
G Gahagan, Operations Manager
Ship/Art International
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| United
Kingdom |
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hand-carry shipments from UK airports are subject to security
screening without exceptions. Some UK airports can waive normal
security screening for works of art traveling from UK museums
but they will still subject the works to security screening,
although the screening method may be different. Unfortunately
the matter is security sensitive and I am unable to explain
the process in writing.
I should also add that security procedures for museum hand
carries can be different from country to country. Therefore
the method of security screening for UK museums at overseas
airports can be different when works travel to the UK museums,
whether or not the works belong to them.
Michel
Letendrie, Museum Services Manager
Martinspeed Limited |
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| Hong
Kong |
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can arrange special security screening of hand-carry Shipments
(subject to hand baggage guidelines set by the Airline Operators
Committee) leaving or entering Hong Kong as follows :
1. Non X-Ray Screen:
If you have a hand-carry not favorable to be screened at the
public counter we can arrange for this to take place in a
private room of Airport Security Office. It is possible to
arrange an escort for the Courier during this process and
up till boarding the plane.
2. Normal X-Ray Screening:
A courier carrying hand baggage for screening via X-Ray devices
can also be accompanied by escort under our arrangement. In
the case when further examination of the baggage is required,
we will arrange private room for viewing and then escort the
courier to the boarding gate, bridge or by the air side.
Herman
Chan, Business Manager
Michelle Art Logistics |
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| Taiwan |
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| If
the Hand-carry is a shipment consigned to a government owned
Museum, they will arrange their own armed security force to
escort the shipment from the Airport to the Museum. Museum
representatives will meet the Courier directly at the aircraft
door exit upon arrival. They will accompany the Courier to
the Immigration then for Customs for clearing of goods.
Customs
documents are already applied in advance to Customs office
prior the arrival of the hand-carry shipment so it is a very
smooth process.
If the hand-carry shipment is consigned to private institution,
they have to make arrangements themselves and hire a private
security agency. Airport security will not provide escort
of the shipment. We can arrange normal access Customs clearance
for hand-carry shipments and meet the courier after they pass
through customs & immigration.
It is important
to know that the Customs officer work only Monday to Friday
9:00am to 4:00 pm so you should schedule flight arrivals after
8:00am or before 3:00pm.
Jemmy
Sun, General Manager - Art Dept.
Crown Van Lines
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| Norway |
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| In Norway
it is not so difficult. We can contact the airport security
company and make arrangements to have a private room booked
for the security inspection. We need to have all the information
3 - 4 days in advance so that we can make sure everything
is arranged and so that we can provide information to the
courier about what will happen at the airport in plenty of
time before their flight.
Mikael
Munsterhjelm,
Exel Fine Art
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