Signing ceremony for equipment transfer

US Ambassador His Excellency Eric G. John met with Customes Department Director General Somchai Suijapongse on Monday afternoon at Laem Chabang port.   There at the Inspection Station they took part in a signing ceremony on behalf of the Megaport Initiative programme, to transfer equipment installed at the port to the Thai port authorities.  The US Department of Energy (DOE) established the Megaports programme back in 2003 to provide passive radiation scanning equipment and training to foreign ports.  The programme is designed to scan container traffic going through the port for suspect dangerous materials being smuggled into or out of the port. Recognizing the global importance of Laem Chabang Port (LCP) and its high volume of trade with U.S. seaports, both DOE and Thai Customs Department established the Megaports Initiative at Laem Chabang in September 2005. The Laem Chabang Megaports Initiative went active in March 2009, and is one of the largest dollar-value assistance programmes the U.S. has in Thailand. To date, DOE has invested over $20 million in the Laem Chabang Megaports Initiative in equipment, staffing, and training. With the addition of Megaports technology, the Port of Laem Chabang joins a select group of ports around the world that have implemented the cutting-edge transportation technology needed for global shipping in the 21st century.

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