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China, US launch radiation checks at Shanghai port

07 December 2011 04:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Chinese and U.S. officials launched a radiation detection system Wednesday at Shanghai’s Yangshan port, one of the world’s biggest, as part of efforts to prevent the smuggling of nuclear materials for weapons or terrorism, APA reports quoting Associated Press.

The system is meant to provide comprehensive screening as part of the Megaports Initiative, a U.S. Department of Energy effort to provide such scanning systems at 100 of the world’s biggest ports.

The need for such precautions became evident after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The Shanghai port shipped 3.86 million containers in January-October of this year, with 679,042 of them â€” or about 18 percent â€” destined for the U.S.

The U.S. Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration has faced criticism for delays in installing the detectors. Some countries have resisted their installation, saying they may slow traffic at ports.