The Bureau of Customs (BOC) installed two portal-type x-ray machines at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), increasing the port’s maximum x-ray inspection capacity to an additional 7,680 containers per day.
The new x-ray machines, installed on December 5, have the capacity to scan 160 containers per hour. These add to MICP’s existing seven mobile-type x-rays, which are used in rotation and can scan 25 containers per hour, or 600 containers per day. The port also has one pallet and cargo x-ray machine used for scanning boxes and crates.
With about 3,000 shipments passing through MICP every day, BOC said the increased inspection capability will allow the terminal to ensure a balance between trade facilitation and stringent border protection.
Compared to relocatable mobile x-rays, portal-type x-rays are static and bound to a housing.
As opposed to mobile x-ray equpment which moves along the length of the container, BOC said the portal design allows container trucks to move through the x-ray machine, resulting in faster and more efficient scanning times and a higher number of containers scanned per hour.
BOC-MICP and X-ray Inspection Project will be setting up training programs for their x-ray operators on operating the new equipment.
To fulfil its mandate of facilitating international trade while securing the border, part of BOC’s 10-point priority program is implementing an enhanced and intensified non-intrusive examination system.
BOC earlier said it would add 50 new x-ray machines at various airports and seaports nationwide within the year, including 15 fixed baggage x-ray machines, 25 hand-carried baggage x-ray machines, four mobile baggage x-ray machines, and six portal-type x-ray machines, altogether worth more than P1.2 billion.
The customs bureau had also installed two portal-type x-ray machines at the Port of Manila last September.