Secure Freight roll out slips several weeks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will begin operational testing of an integrated radiation detection and density imaging system for cargo containers at Puerto Cortes, Honduras, next month, according to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff.
The pilot test is part of the Secure Freight Initiative to evaluate at six foreign ports systems designed to automatically scan all containers transiting a terminal or specific gate.
Puerto Cortes originally was scheduled to be begin scanning U.S.-bound containers in late February, but Chertoff said in a speech to the American Association of Port Authorities that installation of the machines commenced in November and live testing will begin in April.
DHS officials also say information technology links are being finalized before the system in Pakistan’s Port Qasim is ready to do cargo security checks.
The department is on a tight schedule because it must report to Congress in October about the progress of the automated inspection pilot program.
Secure Freight roll out slips several weeks
