Through the Megaports Initiative, NNSA works collaboratively with foreign partners to equip seaports with radiation detection equipment.  Approximately 75 ports worldwide are targeted for implementation of the Megaports Initiative.  The Megaports Initiative is a key component of a layered, multi-agency approach designed to prevent terrorists from acquiring, smuggling and using dangerous nuclear materials to develop a weapon of mass destruction or radiological dispersal device in an attack against the United States or its global partners.

To achieve its mission, the Megaports Initiative works with partner countries to equip ports with state-of-the-art radiation detection equipment, sophisticated software packages, and communications systems that operate in concert to indicate the presence of special nuclear material (SNM) or other radioactive material in cargo containers as they move through a port.  To ensure the long-term maintenance and sustainability of installed systems, a strong emphasis is placed upon training host country personnel to operate and maintain the systems.

As an integral element of the U.S. maritime security strategy, NNSA has established a close partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Secure Freight Initiative (SFI), Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America, Container Security Initiative (CSI) and complements the efforts of DHS’ Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), U.S. Coast Guard’s International Port Security Program (IPSP) and the Department of State’s Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

Since the start of the Megaports Initiative in fiscal year 2003, NNSA has completed installations at 19 ports in various countries: Bahamas, Belgium, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Greece, Honduras (SFI Port), Israel (Pilot Project), the Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan (SFI Port), Panama, the Philippines, Spain, Singapore, South Korea (SFI Port), Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United Kingdom (SFI Port). Implementation is underway at additional ports in more than 20 other locations, including: Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Djibouti, Dubai–United Arab Emirate, Egypt, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Spain, and Taiwan.