Alco

Facts About Inspection

Manual inspections are time-consuming, expensive, and damaging to trade
“Eyes cannot see"visual inspections are no longer adequate
Comprehensive and layered electronic inspection combined with merged data and intelligence works
It has to be done

The contract model

The Alco approach overcomes the fundamental problem faced by many ports with limited budgets, specifically, capital expenditures are difficult to justify and obtain. Alco subcontracts the scanning and security port service, thereby relieving the port authority from that burden.

This model has been proven to be successful in governments worldwide. In airports for example, patrons need restaurants and gift shops, but the airport authority doesn't operate these directly; rather, they simply lease the space and take a percentage of revenues. Government agencies have successfully used this subcontract model to improve services, avoid capital expenditures, and even to generate additional revenues in several different areas, such as leasing of toll roads and outsourcing of benefits processing.

Other Services

Although a port authority could certainly purchase the equipment and hire the staff directly, this approach is seldom cost-effective and would require a very lengthy implementation period. The Alco business model solves that problem—providing a complete turnkey solution with trained experts that are ready to go as soon as the contract is signed. The port authority provides Alco with working space, electricity, and a communications infrastructure; Alco provides 100% high-tech inspection and shares the revenues with the port.

We offer each port a turnkey service that will guarantee them scanning of 100 percent of imported containers. We invoice a fee to the importer or agent on the manifest, and we provide the trained staff for scanning and invoicing for the inspection. Our role is to provide the port authority and the customs agents with a report of any inconsistencies found between the declared contents and actual contents; as well as uncovering drugs, dangerous threats including explosives, plastic or metal weapons and radioactive devices such as dirty bombs, and weapons of mass destruction.

Part of the turnkey solution is to share revenues with the port authority, which is negotiated with each customer. Our exclusive contract is for a minimum of seven years, with a guaranteed minimum of 7,500 containers per month.