NLECTC-SE has been working with Billerica, Mass.-based American Science and Engineering to deliver and deploy the company’s OmniView Gantry X-ray inspection system. Deployed by the Charleston Harbor Operations Center (better known as Project SeaHawk), the system is able to penetrate up to 14 inches of steel, providing port officials a comprehensive and safe means to inspect cargo containers for terrorist threats, according to American Science and Engineering.

The company noted that the system will be transferred from NLECTC-SE to Project SeaHawk and will be operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The effort was funded through a grant from the Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice.

“This further enhances the Port of Charleston’s aggressive security posture,” said Bernard Groseclose Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. “It is vital that increased security be balanced with the smooth flow of commerce. This new unit will help do that.”

The Port of Charleston is one of the largest container ports in the United States. The port is home to the aforementioned Project SeaHawk, a law enforcement task force that brings together federal, state and local agencies to improve port security.

“With the war on terrorism and a stronger emphasis on homeland security, it is widely recognized that the nation’s seaports are subject to a variety of threats, from importing weapons and other hazardous substances to illegal immigrants, and constitute a major target for terrorist activity,” said U.S. Rep. Henry Brown Jr., R-S.C., co-chair of the Congressional Port Security Caucus and co-sponsor of the recently passed SAFE Port Act. “By using advanced screening systems like OmniView, we will work to keep our seaports safe by deterring attacks before they occur.”