WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has agreed to restore $2 million in funding for a University of Maine composites container project, according to Sen. Susan Collins.

The University of Maine Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center in Orono had been informed that funds it had been awarded for next year to develop a hybrid-steel composite anti-tamper container for shipping had been cut.

Collins wrote to Adm. Jay Cohen, the undersecretary for science and technology, requesting that the funding be restored.

“I believe that one of the greatest vulnerabilities to our homeland security is the movement of cargo into our nation’s ports,” Collins wrote. “The University of Maine’s advance composite container device has enormous potential to address these vulnerabilities and help protect our cargo ports.”

Habib Dagher, director of the AWEC Center, said that shortly after Collins sent the letter, the university was notified that the money had been restored.

“We really appreciate Senator Collins’ leadership to create the original opportunity for the University of Maine team to develop a smart shipping container for DHS, and now to shepherd the project through a difficult budget transition at DHS where the project was nearly canceled” he said.