The Spanish port of Valencia has been equipped with radiation detection equipment as part of a cooperation between the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spanish Customs, and the Port Authority of Valencia.
"The commissioning of the Port of Valencia underscores the continued shared commitment of the U.S. and Spain to enhance global maritime security," said Ken Baker, US principal assistant deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
"This successful milestone marks continued progress in implementing President Obama’s nuclear security agenda and supports the U.S. global effort to secure vulnerable nuclear material and prevent nuclear proliferation and terrorism."
According to the NNSA, the radiation detectors will help to detect smuggled or illicit shipments of nuclear and other radiological materials inside containers.
"With this equipment the Port of Valencia will now be able to scan all import and export containers passing through the port for the presence of dangerous nuclear and radioactive materials," said NNSA.
Valencia is the second port in Spain to become a Mepaport, an initiative carried out by the NNSA to equip over 100 seaports with radiation detection equipment in order to scan approximately 50% of global shipping traffic by 2016.
As of date, NNSA has installed similar equipment at more than 230 sites and at 31 Megaports around the world, including Bahamas, Belgium, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, implementation of radiation detection equipment is underway at ports in Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai) and Vietnam.
"The commissioning of the Port of Valencia underscores the continued shared commitment of the U.S. and Spain to enhance global maritime security," said Ken Baker, US principal assistant deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
"This successful milestone marks continued progress in implementing President Obama’s nuclear security agenda and supports the U.S. global effort to secure vulnerable nuclear material and prevent nuclear proliferation and terrorism."
According to the NNSA, the radiation detectors will help to detect smuggled or illicit shipments of nuclear and other radiological materials inside containers.
"With this equipment the Port of Valencia will now be able to scan all import and export containers passing through the port for the presence of dangerous nuclear and radioactive materials," said NNSA.
Valencia is the second port in Spain to become a Mepaport, an initiative carried out by the NNSA to equip over 100 seaports with radiation detection equipment in order to scan approximately 50% of global shipping traffic by 2016.
As of date, NNSA has installed similar equipment at more than 230 sites and at 31 Megaports around the world, including Bahamas, Belgium, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Meanwhile, implementation of radiation detection equipment is underway at ports in Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, Spain, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai) and Vietnam.