Radioactive materials meet "National Security Education Day", these maritime knowledge is very "hardcore"
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's overall national security concept, and April 15 this year is the ninth National Security Education Day.
In order to further popularize the laws, regulations and international rules related to the carriage of radioactive materials by ships, and guide the practitioners and practitioners of radioactive materials carried by ships to further enhance their safety awareness, the China Maritime WeChat public platform launched a special education on the National Safety Day on April 15 to take you to understand the relevant requirements for the shipping of radioactive materials.
To comply with the maritime transport of radioactive materials, here are some of the regulations you need to know.
01
Regulations relating to the transport of radioactive materials by sea
Ships carrying radioactive materials shall meet the requirements of relevant international conventions, abide by national laws and regulations on water traffic safety and radioactive material transport safety, comply with national safety standards for the transport of radioactive materials, ensure the safety of personnel, and prevent damage to the environment, resources and facilities. The following regulations should be followed when shipping by sea.
International conventions
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG CODE)
Relevant domestic laws and regulations
Maritime Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China
Regulations on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Materials
Regulations on the Safety Supervision and Administration of Dangerous Goods Carried by Ships
The IMDG rules are mandatory rules that provide detailed provisions on the packaging, labeling, transportation and emergency response of radioactive materials by sea, with the aim of ensuring the safe transportation of these items and preventing harm to the marine environment and human health.
02
IMDG (Version 41-22).
definition
According to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (41-22 editions), radioactive material (Class 7) is any consignment containing radionuclide activity and total activity in excess of the values specified in IMDG Code.
Speaking of radioactive materials, A1 and A2 have to be mentioned. A1 and A2 refer to the basic radionuclide values.
What is A1?
A1 means the activity value of a particular form of radioactive material listed or extrapolated in IMDG, which is used to determine the activity limits specified by IMDG. In layman's terms, A1 is the activity limit for special forms of radioactive materials, that is, it is applicable to non-diffuse solid radioactive materials or radioactive materials encapsulated in sealed boxes.
What is A2?
A2 means the activity value of radioactive materials listed or deduced in IMDG, other than radioactive substances in special forms, which is used to determine the activity limits specified by IMDG. In layman's terms, the A2 value applies to radioactive materials other than those in special form.
So what are the main components of radioactive materials?
Low Specific Activity Items (LSA)
Refers to radioactive materials with limited specific activity in themselves, or radioactive materials to which the estimated average specific activity limit applies. The shielding outside the LSA article is not considered in the estimation of the average specific activity, and can be divided into LSA-I, LSA-II and LSA-III.
Surface Contaminants (SCOs)
Refers to solid substances that are not radioactive but have radioactive materials distributed on their surfaces, and can be divided into SCO-I and SCO-II.
Low-dispersibility radioactive articles
Refers to solid radioactive materials that have limited diffusivity and are not in powder form or solid radioactive materials contained in sealed containers.
Special forms of radioactive materials
Refers to non-diffuse solid radioactive materials or sealed containers containing radioactive materials.
Other terminology
Specific activity
Radioactivity per unit mass.
Transportation Index (TI)
Values assigned to packed, pooled packages or freight containers, or unpackaged LSA-I or SCO-I or SCO-III, assigned to transport radioactive materials for the control of radiation exposure.
Critical Safety Index (CSI)
For packages, pooled packages or containers containing fissile material. In the case of the transport of radioactive material, the value assigned to control the accumulation of a package, a collective package or a container containing fissile material.
Assignment of UN numbers
In accordance with the IMDG, radioactive materials shall be assigned a listed United Nations number, depending on the activity of the radionuclide contained in the package, the fission and non-fissionability of such nuclides, the type of package to be delivered for transport, the contents of the package, the form and the special arrangements for the transport operation, as shown in the figure below. (27 pieces in 9 groups)
Packaging classification
Packages containing radioactive materials, pooled packages and containers are classified as Class I - white, Class II - yellow or Class III yellow depending on the transport index and the level of surface radiation. Among them, Class I represents the weakest and safest radiation hazards, and Class III represents the strongest radiation level and the greatest radiation hazards.
Package type
The types of radioactive material packages specified in the IMDG are exceptional, industrial, type A, type B, type C, fissile and uranium hexafluoride packages.
Exception packages
Only small quantities of radioactive material are permitted, and the dose rate at any point on the outer surface of the package containing radioactive material does not exceed 5 μSv/h.
Common goods transported with excepted packages are: some radiopharmaceuticals, luminescent export signs, bulk anion powder, etc.
Industrial packages
Only low-specific activity radioactive materials and surface contaminants are allowed.
It is further divided into the following three types:
Type 1 Industrial Package (IP-1 Type Package);
Type 2 Industrial Package (IP-2 Package);
Type 3 Industrial Package (Type IP-3 Package).
Common goods that are allowed to be transported in industrial packages are: uranium, thorium ore, and non-radioactive solids with contaminated surfaces, such as contaminated pipes, valves, pumps, etc.
Type A package
Radioactive materials with activity not greater than A1 (for special forms of radioactive materials) or A2 (for other radioactive materials other than special forms) are permitted.
Type B package
It can be divided into B(U) type package and B (M) type package.
Type B packages are allowed to contain a larger amount of radioactive material than Type A packages, and their specific activity limits depend on the design of the package.
Type C package
Type C packages are permitted to contain radioactive materials that exceed the activity limits for Type B packages.
Signs, markings, signs
Marking requirements
Swipe up and down to read more
Exception tags
Exception packages must be clearly and durably marked on the outer surface of the package:
(1) UN number
(2) The identity information of the consignor or consignee, or both
(3) If it exceeds 50kg, the allowable gross weight
Marking of other radioactive materials
1. Each package shall be marked with an easily recognizable and durable mark on the surface of its packaging to identify the identification mark of the consignor, the consignee, or both. Each combined package shall be permanently visible externally with the identification of the consignor or consignee, or both, unless those markings are clearly visible on all packages within the collective package.
2. Each package exceeding 50 kg must be marked with an easily recognizable, durable mark on the surface of the package for its maximum allowable gross weight.
3. Each package should meet the following requirements:
(1) For IP-1, IP-2 or IP-3 package designs, the words "TYPE IP-1", "TYPE IP-2", or "TYPE IP-3" shall be marked on the surface of the package with easily recognizable and durable markings;
(2) The design of type A packages shall be marked with the word "TYPE A" on the outer surface of the package that is easy to identify and durable;
(3) The design structure of the IP-2, IP-3 or Type A package shall be marked with a recognizable and durable mark indicating the International Vehicle Registration Number (VRI Code) of the country where the design certificate was issued, and shall be accompanied by the name of the manufacturer or the packaging identification mark specified by the competent authority of the original design country.
4. Any package that meets one or more of the requirements specified by IMDG for design approval shall be clearly and legibly marked on the outer surface of its packaging with the following information:
(1) a design identification mark designated by a competent authority;
(2) the serial number of each package that can be uniquely identified in accordance with the design;
(3) In the case of B(U), B(M) or C package design, "B(U)", "B(M)" or "C".
5. The outermost side of each package designed for Type B (U), B (M) or Type C packaging shall be clearly marked with the following trefoil symbol on the outside of the container by embossing, stamping or other fire and water resistance.
Any markings made on the package in accordance with the requirements of IMDG shall be removed or overwritten if they are not related to the UN number and the correct shipping name of the consignment.
6. When LSA-I or SCO-I substances are transported in containers or packaging materials for exclusive use as permitted by IMDG, the outer surface of these containers or packaging materials may be marked with the "RADIOACTIVE LSA-I" or "RADIOACTIVE SCO-I", whichever is applicable.
7. If the international carriage of the package requires design or shipment approval from the competent authority, and the type of approval in the countries involved varies, it should be marked according to the original design country approval certificate.
Logo requirements
In accordance with IMDG regulations, each package, pooled package and container containing radioactive material shall be marked in accordance with the appropriate category of Model 7A, 7B or 7C, with the exception of large shipping containers and tank containers containing unpackaged LSA-I materials or SCO-I or packages other than excepted packages, which shall be affixed with four tags corresponding to the 7D legend type shown in the figure below.
The logo shall be affixed to the two opposite outer sides of the package or pooled package, or to all four sides of the container or tank container. Each collective package containing radioactive material should be affixed to the two opposite outer sides with at least two markings.
Packages, pools and containers containing fissile material, excluding fissile material exempted under the IMDG, shall be marked in accordance with the legend No. 7E;
If applicable, these signs must be affixed immediately to the corresponding 7A, 7B, or 7C. The logo should not override the mark described in IMDG. Any signs that are not related to the contents must be removed or covered.
Signage requirements for cargo transport components
Category 7 radioactive material tags are at least 250×250mm in size, with a black line parallel to the edge 5 mm inside the edge (as shown below). If different dimensions are used, the relative proportions in the drawing must still be maintained. The number "7" must be at least 25 mm high, the upper half of the sign must be yellow on the background, the lower half of the sign must be white, and the trefoil and lettering must be black. The use of the word "RADIOACTIVE" in the lower part is optional and also allows the UN number of the consignment to be displayed in this position.
03
Introduction to typical radioactive materials
Typical radioactive materials
uranium ore
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that is usually found in ores containing the element uranium, which is usually black, yellow, or brown in color. Uranium has a high atomic energy, so it has an important place in the nuclear energy industry.
Uranium ore concentrate or yellowcake is uranium in the form of a concentrated powder made by removing impurities from the original uranium ore. Most uranium is shipped as yellowcake.
Cobalt-60
Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope, which has important applications in the field of nuclear energy. Cobalt-60 is extremely difficult to obtain, it cannot be obtained directly from nature, and it can only be produced under certain nuclear reaction conditions.
Cobalt-60 has a wide range of applications and is mainly used in the medical field for the treatment of tumors. It emits gamma rays that can penetrate human tissues and have a killing effect on tumor cells, thus achieving therapeutic purposes. In addition, cobalt-60 can also be used to prepare radiopharmaceuticals, such as iodine-131, for the treatment of thyroid cancer.
Cobalt-60 also has certain applications in the industrial field, mainly used for non-destructive testing and material modification. For example, it can be used to inspect the structural integrity of vehicles such as airplanes and trains to ensure that they are safe and reliable. In addition, cobalt-60 can also be used for surface hardening of metal materials to improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of materials.
The application of cobalt-60 in agriculture is mainly reflected in radiation breeding. By applying low-dose radiation treatment to crop seeds, the growth and development of seeds can be promoted, and the yield and quality of crops can be improved. In addition, cobalt-60 can also be used to control pests and diseases, such as tobacco mosaic virus.
Shipping Tips:
1. Foreign ships carrying radioactive materials entering or leaving the territorial waters of the People's Republic of China shall report to the maritime safety administration.
2. Ships carrying radioactive materials shall not be towed in formation mixed with other barges.
3. The shipper shall, before delivery of the carry, explain to the carrier the type, quantity, and hazard characteristics of the consignment of radioactive materials and the emergency measures to deal with the occurrence of dangerous situations, submit cargo information, and report to the maritime safety administration.
4. Radioactive materials on board the ship shall be submitted with the corresponding materials specified in the Regulations on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Substances and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. This includes, but is not limited
Proof of radioactive dose
Package Surface Radiation Monitoring Report
Information related to the transport of radioactive materials
Transportation index, surface radiation levels, packaging shipping documents, etc.
5. Type B (U) packages need to obtain the packaging type approval from the government of the shipping country.
6. Type B (M) packages are subject to type approval from the governments of the countries from which they originate, as well as approvals from any other countries on their way or upon arrival.
Source: Danger Prevention Department of the Ministry of Maritime Safety Administration, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration
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