TRANSPORTATION | DENIAL OF SHIPMENT
The importance of global transport
Transport of nuclear materials is key not only to the growth of nuclear power but also the use of radiopharmaceuticals and countless other sectors that benefit from nuclear technologies. Denial of shipment is a major barrier.
By Capt. Simon Chaplin, Maritime and Security Specialist, World Nuclear Transport Institute
EACH YEAR, MANY MILLIONS OF packages of radioactive material are transported globally. These shipments are vital because the producers and users of these materials are often located in different countries. Most of these shipments take place without any interruption. They are, quite literally, routine. However, on occasions these shipments are prevented from reaching their end user and this can have serious consequences for those that are relying on their delivery. The radioactive materials transported have many uses.
These can be divided into three main areas: ● Shipments for medical uses, such as radiopharmaceuticals
● Shipments for non-nuclear industry such as agriculture, mining, surveying, and food industry uses
● Shipments within the nuclear fuel cycle, that support the nuclear industry and power generation
When people think about the transport of radioactive material, they often imagine large packages of radioactive waste, or high security shipments of reprocessed fuel
or even plutonium. Small numbers of these types of shipment do indeed take place, but most shipments of radioactive material involve far smaller quantities that are transported using more regular delivery methods, rather than specialised transportation means. In fact the majority of shipments of radioactive material are for non-nuclear industry and medical uses, with fuel cycle shipments making up only around 5% of these transports. Whatever transport method is used, all radioactive material must be packaged and transported in accordance with the very strict regulations and guidelines laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These regulations are further defined in the regulations agreed at other UN agencies for the various transport modes, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These rules are ultimately adopted into statute by each member state. These rules are designed to ensure the safety of the material and to provide all the necessary protection for the workers that handle these packages, as well as others in the vicinity and for safeguarding the environment.
Above: Radiopharmaceuticals are used in over 10,000 hospitals worldwide, but the necessary isotopes are not produced in many countries. This necessitates the transport of radioactive materials Source: Life Couriers
22 | January 2025 |
www.neimagazine.com
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