U.S. radiation scanners are set to be deployed at the Bangladeshi port of Chittagong, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration announced yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 31).
The Energy Department agency is expected to install the scanners in conjunction with the Bangladeshi Shipping Ministry and other government entities in the South Asian country. Under a deal announced yesterday, NNSA officials would also train port security personnel to operate and maintain the detection equipment.
"Considering Bangladesh's strategic South Asian location, this agreement is a major step forward in preventing nuclear materials from being smuggled through maritime cargo container traffic," NNSA Deputy Administrator William Tobey said in a statement. "NNSA appreciates the Bangladesh government's willingness to cooperate with us in this critical mission and we look forward to continuing our joint efforts."
The equipment would be deployed under the Megaports Initiative, a radiation detection effort now in place at 19 ports and being established at 20 other global ports. The initiative is part of the NNSA Second Line of Defense program, an effort to prevent nuclear and radiological smuggling across the borders of participating nations (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Nov. 17).