February 17th, 2003 - SECURITY at Port Klang has been given a further boost with the installation of a RM5mil mobile container X-ray scanning machine at Westport last week.

The unit, manufactured by Johor-based Opto Sensors (M) Sdn Bhd, is the second machine to be placed in Port Klang, after the one at Northport.

The installation of the equipment comes just a month after Malaysia became a signatory to the US-Customs led container security initiative (CSI) programme.

Under the CSI, US Customs officials will be placed at Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas to inspect American-bound boxes for bombs and weapons of mass destruction.

The mobile unit, called Rapiscan, consists of two main pieces. One is a prime mover, which carries the operator control room and a trailer, which stacks the X-ray generator box.

To check containers, the entire container truck, without the driver, is latched to the prime mover and towed through the scanner.

This is to ensure that haulier drivers are not exposed to radiation emitting from the X-ray unit.

Selangor Customs director Datuk Wazir Muaz said the mobile X-ray was capable of checking up to 40 containers an hour and officers would be on duty round-the-clock to carry out the examinations.

He said the scanner could identify the contents of a container, which would be displayed on a computer screen in the operator control room.

“From there, our officers will be able to recognise what is inside. Each type of good is detected by a different colour that appears on the monitor.

“Hence, we will know if weapons, drugs or other illegal items are being carried. The result of the scan can also be printed out or stored in diskettes for further analysis.”

Wazir said both terminals would benefit from the machines, as they would enable smoother flow of US-bound containers.

“Rather than slowing down port operations it should expedite the CSI mechanism by reducing the need to further check the boxes upon reaching the US.”

It is learnt that US Customs officers have expressed interest in visiting Westport and Northport to check the container scanning facilities available at the two terminals.

Westport is waiting for a letter from the US Customs to confirm their visit, which is expected to be within the next month.

Compared to the stationary ones, the mobile scanners are capable of being moved easily from one spot to another.

Opto Sensors has already mobilised one unit in Johor. Two more will be set up – one in Kuantan Port and another at the Malaysia-Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam.