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U.S. Highlights X-Ray Scanner at Baltimore Port
U.S. Customs officials are touting an X-ray machine installed at the port of Baltimore, Md., as a tool for keeping dangerous weapons out of the country, the Baltimore Sun reported today (see GSN, May 25). The $6 million machine, installed at the port in January, is capable of seeing through a foot of steel and can scan 140 cargo containers per day. “Close to 140,000 cargo containers arrive here at the port each year,” Customs chief Robert Bonner told workers at the port. “I look forward to working with all of you here to ensure that the port of Baltimore has the manpower and technology it needs to protect this port.” Jim Engleman, a Customs officials stationed in Baltimore, said the X-ray machine vastly improves security at the port. “There’s no silver bullet,” said Engleman. “This is pretty good. We can use it all day X-raying containers as they come off the ships and park it over to the side at night.” Maryland is one of only three states that have the machine, but Customs officials are working to install powerful X-ray devices at ports around the country. No weapons have been found in Baltimore since the machine began scanning cargo earlier this year. F. Brooks Royster III, the port’s executive director, said a new fence, surveillance equipment and patrol boat will be purchased soon to further enhance security. “Security at ports has become the No. 1 priority,” said Royster (Meredith Cohn, Baltimore Sun, June 3).
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