Major Indian ports to get container scanners

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

25 Dec 2007

India will spend $44 million to install container scanners at four ports in an effort to crack down on smuggling activities and malpractices at ports, reports say. A fixed scanner for inbound containers will be installed at Mumbai port while Kandla, Chennai and Tuticorin ports will get one fixed scanner and one mobile gamma-ray scanner each. Officials from India's Finance Ministry reportedly said the scanners would enable customs to make non-intrusive inspection of container cargo and bring down cost and time involved in such inspections. The machines will cover approximately 76% of India's total container traffic when fully operational. The project is part of a $91 million scheme by the Ministry to clamp down on illegal activities across Indian shores. The Ministry will also deploy 109 new marine vessels to ply the country's coastline and riverine inland waters to detect movement of contraband goods, arms and ammunition, explosives and narcotics through these areas. The vessels will be acquired in phases by 2009.