Coast Guard’s NAIS Achieves Full Operational Capability
The Coast Guard says it has completed the nationwide deployment of a system that automatically helps identify vessels in the nation’s ports and waterways. Full operational capability of the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) was achieved on May 24 with the deployment and acceptance at 58 critical ports and 11 waterways identified in the NAIS Operational Requirements Documents. The Coast Guard says that on a daily basis, NAIS receives an average of over 264 million vessel messages and provides data feeds to over 80 Coast Guard and other government agency systems worldwide. The maritime domain awareness system was directed by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The program began in 2004. The service says that by the end of September, it expects the NAIS program to complete an acquisition decision event 4 and transition from the acquisitions to the sustainment community.
Smiths Detection Offers Detection of Lithium Batteries on HI-SCAN Systems
Smiths Detection says its HI-SCAN 100100V-21s and 100100T-2is break bulk cargo scanners now include the option of lithium battery detection. The company says more of its conventional X-Ray scanners will eventually also offer the same option. “The lithium battery development follows IATA’s recommendations regarding dangerous goods and is aimed mainly at the air cargo sector,” says Matt Clark, vice president of Technology & Product Development at Smiths Detection. “It is designed to tackle the tangible threat posed by lithium batteries, which have the potential to ignite when airborne. In addition to extending this option to a full range of systems, we plan to expand these augmented detection capabilities to goods such as weapons, flammable liquids, currency and drugs.” The company says existing installations can be upgraded on site.