By Godfrey Bivbere

Federal Government’s 48hours target for the clearance of imports into the country has received a boost, with the introduction of two hi-tech gantry scanners at Onne and Port Harcourt ports by Destination Inspection (DI) service provider, SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited.

Managing Director of SGS, Nigel Balchin, said the gantry scanners are not just new but also represent the most up-to-date technology that will compliment current efforts aimed at reducing the cost of doing business at the ports.

Balchin explained that gantry scanners were not available in 2005 when SGS entered into contract with the Federal Government as a service provider under the Destination Inspection regime. However in line with his company’s quality service culture, it sought government’s permission to deploy the technology which experts say is more productive and cost effective than the traditional fixed cargo scanners; two gantry scanners have been provided for the cost of one fixed scanner.

The two scanners installed by the company at Onne and Port Harcourt ports are able to scan around 34 trucks per hour as compared with 16 trucks for a fixed scanner. The gantry scanner has a double tunnel; therefore two trucks can be scanned simultaneously.

Its image quality is on par with a fixed scanner. The trucks remain stationary during scanning (the scanner moves on rails) unlike a fixed scanner where the truck is pulled through the scanner on a conveyor that’s more vulnerable to maintenance issues.

The scanner is mounted above ground unlike a fixed scanner where one of the detectors is four metres underground. In addition, a relocatable gantry scanner can be re-deployed to an alternative site, in a relatively short time, in case of any expansion or new development.

The introduction of the gantry scanner will no doubt impact positively on the economy of States in the South East and South South regions of the country.