A Large X-ray Facility is Being Built at the Duisburg Port

duisport plays it safe: In the coming months, a large X-ray facility (GRA) for loaded trucks will be established at the Duisburg port. This will enable customs to better combat criminal smugglers in the world’s largest inland port and speed up customs processing.

(Duisburg) The GRA operates similarly to a car wash. The truck stands still, but instead of wash brushes, the mobile arm of the GRA moves along the truck. The cargo is scanned with X-rays from two sides. The goal of this operation: razor-sharp images should show the experts at the Ruhrort customs office what is stored in the containers on their monitors. So far, such costly and personnel-intensive large X-ray facilities have only been used in significant international seaports; in Germany, they currently exist only in Hamburg and Bremerhaven. “This significantly increases the international security standard at the Duisburg site. For international shipping companies, the existence of such a facility is an important criterion for determining where to expand or reduce their activities,” says duisport CEO Markus Bangen.

The facility will be built on an area of approximately 3200 m² in close proximity to the duisport headquarters in Ruhrort. And exactly at this location, upgrades are now underway: Plans include the construction of a hall of about 620 m² and an office building of approximately 550 m².

Initiative comes at the right time

For the Ruhrort customs office, the initiative comes at just the right time. Since Brexit, the number of trucks that need to be inspected at the port has surged. The construction of the large X-ray facility in Duisburg is also welcomed by Stephanie Imhof, head of the Duisburg main customs office: “The technical equipment allows for effective and efficient inspections. Customs is thereby expanding its partnership with the Duisburg port, ensuring fair conditions in the economy, and strengthening consumer protection.”

Photo: © duisport / Caption: A large X-ray facility (GRA) for loaded trucks is being built at the Duisburg port in the coming months. Pictured are (l. to r.) Philipp Schwedes, head of customs department, Markus Bangen, duisport CEO, Stephanie Imhof, head of the Duisburg main customs office, Lars Nennhaus, duisport board member for technology and operations.