Inspection of ships from Japan extended until mid-May

The Port Authority will continue to carry out measurements on all ships from Japan until at least 15 May 2011.

3 May 2011

An exception will be made for ships which have been measured for radioactivity in another port and received a relevant certificate. In two weeks, the need for checks will be reviewed. Up to now,container ships and car carriers have been inspected. With all of the vessels, the values measured proved to be below the permitted norm.

On Thursday 14 April, the Carsten Maersk was the first ship to arrive from Japan. Together with Applus RTD (non-destructive testing and inspection), the Port Authority had already carried out the inspection in the English port of Felixstowe, where the container ship made a stop en route. No increased levels of radiation were found. The inspection was performed using instruments which are suitable for measuring the relevant radiation remotely. Special attention is paid here to parts of the ship which are often touched during transshipment operations. The lashing rails and the tops of the containers were paid particular attention. The risk does not relate to the radiation itself, but to the radioactive particles which can cause contamination if they enter the body through the skin or mouth.

After the checks at sea, further checks on the ship follow once it has moored. The containers are then taken ashore, they pass through the detection gates at the terminal and are screened again before leaving the site. The values measured up to now have all been nicely below the permitted norm, as expected.

Port of Rotterdam Authority