WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Dubai Ports World, the Arab-owned company which set off a furor with its purchase of six U.S. port operations earlier this year, has been cleared to join a federal pilot program to test the methods used to screen U.S.-bound cargo for radiation.

The Security Freight Initiative involves the use of existing technology -- including streaming video and nuclear-detection devices -- at foreign ports, according to details announced Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Three of the ports that will participate in the congressionally mandated initiative are operated by DP World, the United Arab Emirates-owned company deemed a security risk by numerous lawmakers in February when it bought P&O, the British company that manages some cargo and passenger terminals at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

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