Passport Systems, has received the Security Innovation Award from Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) for helping to revitalize the Port of Boston.
Passport Systems has developed two state-of-the-art detection systems that are helping to keep the world safer from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) threats.
Massport, the port authority of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, held the event on September 19 to thank Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts federal, state, and local delegations for their support of the revitalization of the Port of Boston.
At the event, which was held at Massport’s Conley Terminal, Massachusetts’ Senator Edward J. Markey presented the award to Dr. Robert Ledoux, President, CEO and Director of Passport Systems, Inc.
“Dr. Bob Ledoux and the team at Passport Systems have created a truly remarkable cargo inspection system capable of detecting potentially dangerous material and other contraband,” said Senator Markey.
“This potentially life-saving technology represents both ingenuity and progress as we look to prevent threats on our shores. I applaud Dr. Ledoux and Passport Systems for their commitment to innovation, that uniquely Massachusetts tradition, and congratulate them on receiving the Security Innovation Award.”
Also in attendance were Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Mike Capuano, State Senators Linda Dorcena Forry, Thomas McGee, and John Keenan, State Representative Nick Collins, Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan, and Boston City Councilor Michael Flaherty.
“We are honored to have received this award,” said Dr. Ledoux.
“Passport Systems is committed to delivering technological solutions that significantly enhance security. It is our mission at Passport to develop advanced products which are part of the global architecture and provide public safety. We take this responsibility very seriously.”
Lisa Wieland, Director of the Port of Boston, cited the important contributions that local companies have made to revitalize the port.
“Massport’s commitment to safety and security across the Authority benefits from the type of ingenuity demonstrated by local companies like Passport Systems,” she said.
“The progress and growth seen in the Port of Boston over the past few years is attributable to both the strategic investments made by Massport and the continued innovation brought forth by our partners.”
Dr. Ledoux affirms that Passport Systems has developed state-of-the-art radiation detection technology that may help domestic and foreign seaports thwart nuclear terrorists seeking to transport nuclear materials. He says Passport’s advanced scanning technology could play a major role in protecting people and property in the U.S. and in foreign countries.
(Learn More about Passport Systems by viewing this short video showing a 3D image of truck with a car scanned using Passport’s EZ-3D™, NRF, and PNPF technologies. The red objects are fissionable material, which are identified as 238U (depleted uranium).
The purple object is high atomic number material, which are identified as lead (in the battery). The orange object is explosives which are identified as C4. Courtesy of Passport Systems and YouTube)
“Our objective is to work with government agencies and private industries around the world to protect the public and property from CBRNE threats,” said Dr. Ledoux. “The world gets more dangerous every day. But our team is hard at work developing technology to counter these threats, and keep people safe.”
Passport Systems was founded to develop and commercialize new technologies to address the threats facing the world in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Founded by a team of MIT technologists and entrepreneurs, Passport Systems has proudly developed two cutting-edge product lines: The SmartScan 3D™ Automated Cargo Inspection System, based on nuclear resonance fluorescence technology, and the SmartShield™ Networked Radiation Detection System, using advanced data fusion algorithms.
