BY NAVSUP FLEET LOGISTIC CENTER SIGONELLA OFFICE OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS AND LS2(AW) ANDREA TUCKER
The increase in the Navy’s operations tempo throughout the Mediterranean has caused a growing influx of cargo movement for NAVSUP’s Italian customs counterparts (Dogana) in Sicily, according to NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Sigonella customs experts.
Citing command metrics that track annual customs clearance transactions, Byron Whitesides, Site Sigonella regional customs clearance program manager, said that of the 124,000 plus customs clearance actions during fiscal year 2018, Site Sigonella performed more than half of the customs work for the command.
In a continuing effort to strengthen relations with its Italian supply chain counterparts during this influx, Site Sigonella hosted Dogana leaders in September to familiarize them with the command’s customs processes. One of Site Sigonella’s logistics support officers, Lt. Adam Romero, delivered a presentation about the logistics process flow at Naval Air Station Sigonella (NASSIG).
“Our Dogana partners play a significant role in our ability to perform the customs clearance aspect of our mission at NASSIG,” Romero said. “Briefing them about our logistics process flow serves to reinforce our relationship with our host nation partner, and to explore collaboration opportunities for improving our customs clearance procedures and tackling mutual customs challenges.”