Radioactive Material Forbidden At The Port

Date: 2012/08/31

Given the suspicion that there were entering to the port of Iquique some radioactive material, the Maritime Authority of Iquique would execute a contingency plan with civil authorities to track the ship and check if it contains inside remain elements that could mean a health detriment.

This by the way Bolivian media reported about an alleged pass of a shipment of uranium through the region.

Maritime Authority, Christian Galvez said that transportation of radioactive substances by coastal road is subject to a complex set of regulations, because ships and containers are specially designed for the type of load. "Loadings are extremely controlled, so thinking about smuggling this material by sea is a difficult matter, although is not impossible," said Galvez.

The officer recalled last year when a ship arrived to the country from Japan after the earthquake that caused a radioactive emergency when Fukushima nuclear power plant failed. At that time Customs auditors found that a vessel transporting cars had 20 vehicles contaminated with radioactivity. "It was a fairly complex episode because it was the first port of Chile where it happened, therefore extends a series of regulations that had not been implemented in practice. Fortunately we did well. "Galvez noted.

Source: Diario La Estrella De Iquique