Taoiseach launches Customs X-ray Scanner
An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, today (13 February) officially launched Revenue's new Customs x-ray container scanner at the New Custom House in Dublin Port.
Built by Nuctech Co. Ltd in China, the new x-ray scanner, the most powerful mobile container scanner currently available on the market, will enable Customs to inspect increasing numbers of containers and commercial vehicles. The scanner is capable of detecting drugs; contraband such as cigarettes and alcohol; explosives and firearms; and clandestines (stowaways) and is due to be deployed at all container and ferry ports in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony An Taoiseach said:
"This scanner will no doubt help level the playing field for Customs in tackling the containerised smuggling of drugs and contraband tobacco. The United Nations Office on Drugs estimated the global illicit drug market to be valued at over $429billion in 2003. And with the increasing sophistication of smugglers worldwide, detection is becoming more and more difficult. That is why it is essential that those who have to fight the smugglers be provided with the tools necessary to do so."
Noel Ahern TD, Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for Drugs Strategy commented:
"I am aware that the Customs Service are achieving considerable success in achieving their Drugs Strategy targets for seizures . €160m worth of illegal drugs being prevented from hitting our streets between 1999 and 2004 illustrates their considerable achievements. I am confident that the new Customs Mobile X-Ray Scanner will go a long way in building on this success."
The Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Frank Daly said:
"I am certain that this new cutting-edge addition to our armoury will serve us well in our battle with the criminals who pose such a threat to our economy, to our security and to our children."
Guests of honour at the ceremony were An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD and Mr Noel Ahern TD, Minister for State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who has special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, His Excellency Mr ZHANG XINSEN, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China and His Excellency Mr Declan Kelleher, Irish Ambassador to China.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr CHEN ZHIQIANG, Vice President of Nuctech Co. Ltd and Mr Joe Burke, Chairman of the Dublin Port Company. Other dignitaries included Local constituency TDs as well as senior representatives from the Garda Siochana, Naval Service, Army and Air Corps as well as representatives from business, ferry companies, port authorities, and the export and trade community. The event was also attended by international guests including Customs officials from Denmark, Holland, Malta, Sweden and the UK.
[Ends 13/02/06]
Additional Information:
Technical details:
The scanner uses a high-energy linear accelerator to generate the x-rays.
The system produces high quality x-ray images, which when subjected to the sophisticated software systems, can be interpreted to detect concealments in cargoes.
At 4 MeV (mega electron volts) this system is the most powerful mobile container scanner currently available and produces results comparable with larger static (Relocatable) systems.
Crew:
The scanner will be crewed by two teams of specially selected and trained Revenue personnel (six officers in total).
Manufacture and cost:
Revenue signed a contract for a mobile container x-ray scanner with Nuctech Co. Ltd, China, in Dec 2004 at a cost of approx €3m.
The scanner was built in China and delivered to Dublin in December 2005. It has been undergoing preparatory testing in advance of the launch.
Nuctech have been manufacturing container scanners since 1997 and have sold over 180 worldwide, 16 of them in Europe.
Planned Use and Deployment:
It is suitable for scanning containers, trailers, and vehicles including cars, vans and coaches.
It will be deployed at all of our container and car ferry ports.
The system is highly mobile and can be set up to operate in less than 30 minutes. Scanning a container normally takes two or three minutes and it takes on average a further five to ten minutes for trained Customs operators to interpret the scanned images.
Health and Safety Considerations
The Nuctech system complies with all radiological requirements as set out in international regulations and national legislation. A licence to operate has been issued to Revenue by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). A radiological expert consultant has overseen the project and will continue to act as our Radiological Protection Advisor. Operating staff and members of the public will not be subject to any health risks from the scanning process.
If anyone is inadvertently subjected to a scanning x-ray (a stowaway in a container for example), the radiation dose received will be significantly less than that of a chest x-ray, or even the dose experienced in the course of a long-haul air flight.
When the linear accelerator is switched off, no radiation is emitted. When the accelerator is switched on a safety exclusion zone is maintained all times.