Six Overseas Ports to Screen US-Bound Cargo for Radiation

六个海外港口将对输美货物进行放射性检查

U.S. government officials say six overseas ports will screen cargo bound for the United States to prevent terrorists from sneaking radioactive materials into the country starting in early 2007. Under a new 60-million dollar program , all U.S.-bound containers will be screened by radiation monitors at ports in Pakistan, Honduras, and Southampton in Britain. Inspection of some cargo will take place at ports in South Korea, Singapore and Oman.

The screenings will cover at least seven percent of the 11-million containers that come into the U.S. each year. The departments of Energy and Homeland Security will split the cost of the program. The U.S. Congress mandated test screenings at three overseas ports as part of a 35-billion dollar Homeland Security measure passed in September.

美国政府官员说，从2007年年初开始，将在六个海外港口对运往美国的货物进行检查，防止恐怖分子把放射性物质偷运进美国。按照这个耗资六千万美元的新项目，将在巴基斯坦、洪都拉斯和英国南安普顿港对所有运往美国的集装箱进行放射检测。在韩国、新加坡和阿曼的港口将对部份货物进行检查。

根据这一项目，每年运抵美国的1千1百万个集装箱中至少有7%将接受检查。美国能源部和国土安全部将分摊这一计划的费用。美国国会今年9月通过了350亿美元的国土安全措施议案，包括授权在三个海外港口进行检查测试。