Ahead of our annual transport security supplement with the November print issue of Professional Security, some US news.
QinetiQ North America (QNA) reports that it has teamed with VeriTainer Corporation to provide its radiation scanning solution to ports around the globe. VeriTainer Corp, based in Fremont, California, has developed the VeriSpreader, a crane-mounted device that scans containers in real time for dangerous radiation as they are being loaded and discharged from container ships, therein achieving the critical balance of high security and the free flow of commerce.
The teaming agreement couples VeriTainer’s technology with QNA’s systems engineering and data analysis capability to deliver scanning technology to the world’s ports. The agreement comes after VeriTainer’s two Oakland Pilot Projects, the second of which concludes later this month.
The Oakland test programme demonstrated it is claimed robustness and efficiency of this technology and its design as more than 20,000 containers have been scanned without disruption to operations as they entered the Port of Oakland. Earlier this year, the VeriSpreader was awarded Qualified Anti-Terrorist Technology (QATT) designation status by the Department of Homeland Security for developmental testing and evaluation.
VeriTainer and QinetiQ hold what is claimed to be the first solution capable of addressing the significant challenges associated with scanning particular to transhipment and on-dock rail operations. Further, VeriTainer’s crane based solution eliminates the long dwell time between entry and scanning currently being experienced at many US ports, the firm says.
In the United States, recent legislation signed by President George Bush requires 100 percent scanning of all containers inbound to the US by 2012. Now, for the first time, governments, the maritime industry, and other stakeholders have a physically secure scanning technology which requires no manning, making 100 per cent port of origin and port of destination scanning feasible, it is claimed.
"VeriTainer has proven that its crane-based detection system works, and we believe it accomplishes primary scanning in the most accurate and efficient way since the lift period offers a long dwell time for the sensors," said Rob Topping, QNA’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Combining VeriTainer’s technology with our ability to deliver solutions to port and homeland security customers is an important part of our strategy to employ innovative, best-in-class technologies, both from inside QinetiQ and from our partners.”
“This is an invaluable relationship,” said John Alioto, Chairman and CEO of VeriTainer. “With the global reach of the QinetiQ Group we will be able to assist governments and port personnel around the world in their efforts to find the most cost-effective solution to this potential terrorist threat. In QinetiQ, we have the partner that can help us deliver integrated solutions worldwide.”
