Bill Kelly, Senior Vice President of SAIC, left, points out advantages of his company's Pallet VACIS and Mobile Vacis inspection systems at the press conference. Looking on are Hon. Noel Hylton, second right, President and Chief Executive Officer, Port Authority of Jamaica, and Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works. TRANSPORT AND Works Minister, Robert Pickersgill, recently signed agreements, valued at over US$18 million for the provision of x-ray inspection system for local ports. Two contracts for US$13.3 million and US$5.54 million were signed between the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), and United States security system providers, Science Application International Corporation (SAIC) and Advanced Research and Applications Corporation (ARACOR) to deliver the equipment.
The first contract for the larger amount with SAIC, is for five VACIS Pallet Cobalt 60 Gamma Ray Systems, and five VACIS Mobile Cobalt 60 Gamma Ray Systems.
COMPREHENSIVE
INSPECTION
The other contract provides one Eagle X-ray unit from ARACOR. These state-of-the-art inspection systems are designed to provide comprehensive inspection of containers and cargo packages to prevent smuggling of drugs and other contraband at the island's major ports. The first unit, a VACIS mobile unit, will be delivered by February 2004 and all other units will be delivered by September 2004.
At the signing in Kingston the Minister announced that the PAJ would soon install a Closed-Circuit TV System (CCTV) for round-the-clock surveillance on the ports with the purchase of an Access Control System to electronically control and regulate access to major ports in the near future.
He said the restructuring of the security systems in the ports of Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio was in response to increased global attention to security at seaports and airports in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. While mentioning the PAJ's security alertness, he said the current circumstances demanded a new dimension to port security.
He said the signing was a demonstration of Jamaica's commitment to maintain the integrity of its security programme and upholding its responsibility as an international trading partner.
Recent amendment to the U.S. Port and Maritime Security Act now requires ports trading with the U.S. to be certified and audited in accordance with specified security standards. In addition, the International Maritime Organisation has approved security standards for the world's ports to be implemented by July 2004.
Mr. Pickersgill commended the consultative committee, which included representatives of government ministries and agencies as well as stakeholders, which, he said, worked in consultation with U.S. security agencies to assiduously evaluate and restructure the ports' systems and procedures in order to select an appropriate security system for Jamaica.
ARACOR and SAIC, based in the US, are considered leading manufacturers of cargo inspection systems. With sales of over 200 systems worldwide, SAIC's VACIS (Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System) systems have been installed at major ports and land border crossings, where security and manifest verification are required.
GAMMA-RAY
TECHNOLOGY
VACIS uses gamma-ray technology to non-invasively inspect trucks, containers, cargo and passenger vehicles. The Mobile VACIS is a truck-mounted gamma-ray imaging system capable of inspecting stationary and moving vehicles from either side quickly. It scans a 40-foot container in less than 6 seconds, with average cycle times of 1 to 3 minutes.
ARACOR's Eagle cargo inspection system is a mobile, fully self-contained X-ray system providing the world's most efficient and cost-effective capability for inspecting the contents of air and sea cargo containers, trucks, automobiles, and rail cars.
In less than one minute, it can inspect a standard 12-meter (40-foot) long high-density refrigerated cargo container; the high-resolution images can be used to verify shipping manifests or detect contraband.
It moves from one location to another within an inspection site and is easily transportable to other locations.
