Severity, Probability and Risk of Accidents during Maritime Transport of Radioactive Material

In the 1990s, the maritime transport of radioactive material, in particular the shipments from France to Japan of plutonium, of high level vitrified wastes and of fresh mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, attracted much publicity. In 1992, a Joint International Atomic Energy Agency/International Maritime Organization/United Nations Environment Programme Working Group on the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel and other Radioactive Materials by Sea considered many safety aspects associated with plutonium transport. The group concluded that all the information available in this area demonstrated that there were very low levels of radiological risk and environmental consequences from the transport of radioactive material. The group further recommended that the matter be kept under review by the three organizations involved. In its ninth meeting, held in Vienna in 1993, the Standing Advisory Group on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (SAGSTRAM) recommended that a new coordinated research project (CRP) be set up to study the fire environment on board ships. This task was meant to tie in with the recommendations of the Joint Working Group to keep matters related to sea transport of radioactive material under review. This TECDOC represents the final outcome of the work done in the course of many meetings spread over five years.