Shipping Manifest

SGS deploys hi-tech gantry scanners at Rivers ports

Destination inspection (DI) service provider, SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited, is giving fillip to the Federal Government’s 48-hour target for the clearance of the nation’s imports with the introduction of two hi-tech gantry scanners at the Onne and Port-Harcourt ports, both in Rivers State.

The equipment are to be officially commissioned on September 6, 2012.

The gantry scanners, according to the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Nigel Balchin, are not just new but also improved and represent the most up-to-date technology that will compliment current efforts 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 DI regime.

 He said that, 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, noting that two gantry scanners have been provided for the cost of one fixed scanner.

Balchin: “The two scanners installed by the company at the 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 scanners will no doubt impact positively on the economy of States in the South-East and South-South regions of the country. It will equally enhance the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service, notably in the areas of trade facilitation and revenue collection. The scanner’s ability to scan around 34 containers/trucks per hour makes the attainment of the 48 hours clearance target achievable, as more shipments can be handled within every given period. For the ‘garden city’ and its environs, the commencement of scanning operations at the Port Harcourt main port will check the importation of harmful and dangerous goods.”      

Meanwhile, the SGS scanner site at the Port-Harcourt Port, within a two-week period, scanned over 2,000 trucks loaded with fish, as the company staff and officers of the Port Harcourt Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) test-run the facility.

SGS Scanning Nigeria Limited is one of the service providers contracted by the Federal Government to assist the NCS facilitate trade through risk management and use of non-intrusive inspection (x-ray cargo scanning) of imports routed through the nation’s air and sea ports as well as approved borders.

SGS operates under Lot 11 of the D.I. regime. This covers Onne Port Complex (Federal Ocean Terminal/Federal Lighter Terminal), Port-Harcourt Port and Port-Harcourt International Airport, Idi-Iroko Border Post and Ilorin International Airport.

Since 2006, NCS Officers assigned to the company’s scanner sites received classroom and on-the-job training in image analysis, scanner operation and maintenance.

 Also NCS officers have been provided classroom on-the-job training in customs valuation, classification and risk management.

The company is currently training eighty customs officers as part of the smooth transfer of its activities under the DI scheme to the NCS by the end of this year.

In total, over 700 NCS officers have been trained since 2006.

SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA (SGS), a global leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification services, operates over 1350 offices and laboratories worldwide.

 In addition to the destination inspection services being carried-out by SGS in Nigeria, SGS is currently providing cargo scanning services in Bahrain, Cameroon, Haiti, Madagascar, Uruguay and has completed provision of scanning services in Gambia, Kosovo and Mexico.