L.A. port, firm solve issues over scanner
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The Beijing-based manufacturer of a controversial X-ray unit designed to scan cargo for dangerous devices has resolved nearly all of its operational and regulatory issues with the Port of Los Angeles, officials said Tuesday.
In an interview, a spokesman for Nuctech Inc., which is believed to be headed by the son of Chinese President Hu Jintao, expressed relief.
“The port was going to cancel our contract and asked a lot of questions -- we answered them all,” said David Yu, president of DULY Research Inc. of Rancho Palos Verdes, Nuctech’s local representative.
In February, the port announced plans to cancel its contract to buy the $2.4-million scanning unit.
The unit -- which came with a three-year warranty -- had failed field tests during the six-month period specified in the contract.
Beyond that, critics led by U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), argued that the United States should not rely on a political adversary such as China to supply equipment used for national security purposes.
Since then, the company has managed “to sort a lot of things out,” said John Holmes, deputy executive director for operations at the port.
“This company sells equipment around the world,” Holmes said. “But we were its first U.S. customer, and addressing U.S. regulatory requirements proved to be very challenging for them.”
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