Radiation scanning for all US containers

Chertoff said that 100% of containers are screened before they enter the US. This ‘screening’ actually means the examination of information about all inbound shipments, including content, manifests, shipping history and other data. Customs & Border Protection officers working with port officials at more than 50 overseas ports review this information and physically inspect any container that is designated as high-risk cargo.

Radiation detection equipment is being installed in selected overseas ports to scan 100% of US-bound containers for radiological or nuclear emissions. This, says Chertoff, is part of “a Hong Kong integrated approach”, where radiation portals operate simultaneously with traditional X-ray technology.

Chertoff said that the aim is to manage rather than eliminate risk, since any attempt to physically inspect everything would bring commerce to a screeching halt. Moreover, he pointed out that scanning cargo containers overseas requires the permission of the foreign governments that own and operate the ports.