Three Ports Are the First to Scan US-bound Containers

The ports are the first to fulfill the requirements of the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006. Called the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) the process combines non-intrusive inspection with technology to detect radiation. Inspection data is provided to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) National Targeting Center for analysis.

The first three ports are Southampton Container Terminals in the UK, Pakistan’s Port Qasim and Puerto Cortez in Honduras. Four additional ports will become operational and complete Phase I of SFI. However they will only have limited scanning. These facilities have a variety of challenges and environments that will lend themselves to different scanning options. They will partner with the US Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The facilities are Brani Terminal at Singapore, Busan Korea’s Gamman Terminal, Modern Terminal at Hong Kong and Salalah in Oman.

The US has contributed $60 million to SFI for installation of the scanning systems and communications infrastructure that permits data transmission. “This initiative advances a comprehensive strategy to secure the global supply chain and substantially limits the potential for terrorist threats," say Jayson P. Ahern, deputy commissioner of CBP.