Haifa inaugurates container scanning facility

- A new US$12.4m state-of-the art container scanner has been installed at the Israeli Port of Haifa to facilitate container clearing and enhance the quality of services delivered to customers.

In 2007, Haifa became the 55th operational port globally to comply with the ‘Container Security Initiative’ to target and pre-screen maritime cargo containers destined for US ports. The new scanning facility will enable customs to check 160 containers per day, 20 per hour, compared to 40 per day previously.

Israeli Finance Minister, Yuval Steinitz, who attended the inauguration, stated that cargo security technology would increase the screening and security of containers against acts of terrorism and would generate productivity benefits for the economy and profits for ports, shippers, carriers and, ultimately, the consumers.

The US-led Container Security Initiative was launched after the 2001 terrorist attacks, to identify and screen high-risk shipments before they leave participating ports.

(Source: Container Management)