Posted on 11/08/2002 6:05:22 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
SAIC [Science Applications International Corp.] sold two Mobile VACIS trucks to the Department of the Army-SECOM. The Mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS) is a truck-mounted gamma-ray imaging system designed to non-intrusively inspect the contents of trucks, containers, cargo and passenger vehicles for explosive devices and/or contraband.
Each Mobile VACIS truck contains one 1.6 Ci Cs-137 sealed source. The trucks were to be shipped first, then the Cs-137 sealed sources were to be shipped later.
However on September 30, 2002, the trucks were shipped with the sealed sources inside by mistake without the proper DOT paperwork and marking/labeling. This mistake was not discovered until November 5, 2002, when SAIC prepared to ship the sources. They then discovered that the sources were inside the trucks that had been shipped previously.
The trucks were shipped first to Houston by ground and then overseas by ocean carrier. The two shipping companies involved are US Freight and Saudi Arabia Shipping. SAIC has faxed all DOT shipping information to the carrier.
The shipment is not due to arrive in port until November 15, 2002. The company plans to have a representative meet the shipment when it arrives at port.
According to SAIC, the sources are in type A containers that are locked. SAIC has the key in their possession- without this key the sources cannot be removed. The highest reading on the truck found during the package survey prior to shipment was 50 microR/hour.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.