Emergency Arrangements

There are hazards in any marine activity and, while the safety arrangements are exceptionally good, detailed and well-rehearsed emergency response arrangements also exist.

These range from voyage tracking, sonar location devices, radiation monitoring equipment and a worldwide salvage capability to an emergency team of industry specialists on 24-hour worldwide standby.

An advantage with transporting this type of material is that the emergency arrangements do not rely on specialist assistance being available from countries adjacent to the route. There is therefore no special need for emergency plans to be coordinated with other countries in advance.

In the unlikely event of a ship getting into difficulty, a fully trained and equipped team of nuclear experts are available on a 24-hour emergency standby system, in line with IAEA recommendations. In the event of a serious fire or collision, this team would be dispatched to the ship and would direct and manage all remedial operations. The ship would not necessarily head towards the nearest port to seek assistance. Comprehensive salvage arrangements have been drawn up for both the ship and cargo, which could be initiated immediately.