Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded Science Applications International Corp. [SAI] a $33 million contract to supply VACIS P7500 X-Ray inspection system under the Secure Freight Initiative. The number of VACIS systems to be purchased wasn’t disclosed. CBP officers will use the VACIS systems in foreign ports to scan cargo containers destined for the U.S. for weapons, explosives and other threats. SAIC will manufacture the VACIS systems at its new Security and Transportation Technology Business Unit facility near San Diego and deliver them this year and next. The P7500 can scan 150 40-foot containers per hour while drivers remain in their vehicles. Begun last December, Secure Freight builds upon existing port security measures by improving the U.S. government’s ability to scan all containers for nuclear and radiological materials and other threats in international seaports and share those images with the National Targeting Center. So far three ports are operational under Secure Freight: Southampton, U.K.; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; and Port Qasim, Pakistan. Four more ports are also slated to get additional scanning equipment under Secure Freight: Port Salalah, Oman; Brani Terminal at Port of Singapore; Gamman Terminal at Port Busan, Korea; and the Modern Terminal in Hong Kong. DHS is expected to submit reports to Congress in February and April 2008 on the progress made and lessons learned under Secure Freight.
free preview