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THE US departments of Homeland Security and Energy have launched the first phase of the Secure Freight Initiative, which aims to build upon existing port security measures by scanning containers for nuclear and radiological materials overseas to prevent them from being smuggled into the US.
Six foreign ports have so far agreed to take part in the US$60 million first phase, which starting from 2007 will require containers to pass through both a radiation detection machine and an X-ray device to find bomb-making materials before they are allowed to depart for the United States. In the event of a detection alarm, both Homeland Security personnel and host country officials will simultaneously receive an alert.
Participating ports in the initial phase are: Port Qasim in Pakistan, Puerto Cortes in Honduras, Southampton in the United Kingdom, Port Salalah in Oman, Port of Singapore and the Gamman Terminal at Port Busan in Korea.
A statement from US authorities said it is working with an unnamed port operator in Hong Kong to develop and refine their integrated container security architecture pilot test, with a view to later implementing the Secure Freight Initiative there. The US Government hopes to similarly screen up to 30 per cent of cargo destined for the US.
"Our highest priority and greatest sense of urgency has to be aimed at preventing a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb attack against the homeland," said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "This initiative advances a comprehensive strategy to secure the global supply chain and cut off any possibility of exploitation by terrorists."
However, several US officials are said to have questioned the workability and validity of the new Secure Freight Initiative, according to a report by the Karachi Dawn newspaper.
Some anti-terrorism experts are said to have voiced concern that the screening would take place only on container ships and not on other cargo ships. They pointed out that the machines to be used have a reputation for triggering false alarms and are unable to see through all the items inside a container such as frozen food.
More alarming still, they fear terrorists could simply opt to send a bomb by container from a port that is not participating in the scheme, adding that not all X-rays taken will be checked either, posing the risk of a bomb slipping through the security net.
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