Radiation Scanners Installed at Panama Seaport

By National Journal Group
December 15, 2008

Radiation scanners are now operating at two major seaports in Panama to help prevent the illicit transfer of radiological or nuclear-weapon materials, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration said Friday (see GSN, Feb. 12, 2007).

Manzanillo International Terminal helped fund the planning and installation of the detection equipment it received; the Port of Balboa at the Panama Canal's southern tip is helping to scan cargo shipments heading by train to other ports.

“We are working closely with the Panamanian National Customs Authority and with the private terminal operators in Panama to prevent nuclear terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” NNSA Deputy Administrator William Tobey said in a statement. “The success of this project reflects a strong commitment and desire on behalf of the government of Panama to secure its ports from illicit trafficking in nuclear and other radioactive materials."

Panama is already cooperating with the Container Security Initiative, which aims to increase scrutiny of U.S.-bound cargo. The radiation detectors were deployed through the NNSA Second Line of Defense Program (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Dec. 12).