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Port security inspection system debuts
By Shelia Watson
Contributing Writer
A new port security cargo screening system was installed recently for use at the Port of Charleston’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection Container Examination Station.
The OmniView Gantry high-energy X-ray inspection system is able to penetrate up to 14 inches of steel or 8.5 feet of oil, enough to see through a densely loaded container. The system provides port officials a comprehensive and secure means of inspecting cargo containers for terrorist threats.
“One of the ways terrorists or others try to smuggle things is in oil drums,” explained Brent Egbert, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who operated the system during the demonstration. “With this system, we can see into the drum and see whether there is something dropped into it. Prior to getting this equipment, we would have to go to the company receiving the goods and open the drum there.”
The inspection system was developed jointly by American Science and Engineering Inc. and the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center--Southeast, a program of the National Institute of Justice that is administered by the South Carolina Research Authority.
The system will be transferred to Project Seahawk and operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Development of the equipment was funded through a grant from the National Institute of Justice. SCRA helped secure the grant, which John Bradham, vice
president of SCRA, said is nearly $5 million.
“Implementing this system is an acknowledgment of the collaborative efforts and interoperability between several agencies,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA president and CEO. “And this is part of why Charleston is a national model for technology and security.”
The port already has other systems in place to detect unlawful or dangerous contents. The Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System, another x-ray detection system, has been deployed in Charleston for several years.
“This (OmniView Gantry) adds another layer in the examination process,” said Pam Zaresk, area port director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The gantry is moved down the length of the container while the truck remained idle.
“The relocatable OmniView Gantry is an ideal solution to secure our nation’s ports,” said Anthony Fabiano, president and CEO of American Science and Engineering, which is working closely with the Port of Charleston to provide technology for efficient inspection of containerized cargo. The company develops and supplies x-ray inspection systems for a range of uses, including detection of plastic explosives and weapons, liquid explosives, dirty bombs and nuclear devices. The company’s product line includes cargo inspection systems and baggage screening systems.
The OmniView Gantry has a high throughput—about 24 trucks per hour—and a scan speed of about 12 inches per second. The system can scan in both directions and was designed without an exterior building, which allows easier operation. Digital images of the scan are transmitted to a computer, where they may be stored or sent to other security agencies for review.
“We’re an agency that routinely uses top-end technology,” said Egbert. “And I have to say we were very impressed with how this works.”
The Port of Charleston, one of the largest container ports in the nation, is home to Project Seahawk, a law enforcement task force that brings together federal, state and local agencies to improve port security and serves as a model for other ports around the nation.
“This further enhances the Port of Charleston’s aggressive security posture,” said Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. “It is vital that increased security be balanced with the smooth flow of commerce. This new unit will help do that.”
Whit Smith, vice chairman of the S.C. State Ports Authority and president of the Charleston Harbor Pilots, agreed.
“Charleston is really setting the bar when it comes to security,” Smith said.
U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., co-chair of the Congressional Port Security Caucus and co-sponsor of the recently passed SAFE Port Act, was on hand at the inspection system’s
debut.
“With the war on terrorism and a stronger emphasis on homeland security, it is widely recognized that the nation’s seaports are subject to a variety of threats, from importing weapons and other hazardous substances to illegal immigrants, and constitute a major target for terrorist activity,” said Brown. “By using advanced screening systems like OmniView, we will work to keep our seaports safe by deterring attacks before they occur.”
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