U.S. Radiation Monitoring of Shipping Traffic Arriving In The United States After Operating Near Japan

Maritime Developments Advisory

New Development

The powerful earthquake and devastating tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011, which crippled nuclear power plants on Japan's east coast, have caused a growing concern over the potential radioactive contamination of vessels sailing in the vicinity of Japan. In the aftermath of the tragedy, on March 22, 2011, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") and the U.S. Coast Guard ("USCG") published a joint notice addressing the potential radiation risk and advising of monitoring protocols that have been established for the arrival of vessels in the United States after having been possibly exposed to the radiation leaking from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. In addition, on March 17, 2011, the U.S. Maritime Administration ("MarAd") issued Advisory # 2011-02 to mariners regarding vessels sailing to or from Japan or operating in the vicinity of the location of the nuclear power plants.

Background

There remain concerns about vessels sailing to and from Japan or anywhere within a 50-mile range of the Japanese nuclear power plants leaking radiation, and many governments are taking steps to monitor or screen vessels arriving at their ports. The U.S. government has determined that the radiation levels outside a zone of 50 miles from the Fukushima power plant do not pose a hazard to human health and does not expect to see harmful levels of radiation reach the United States from the damaged Japanese nuclear power plants. After MarAd issued its Advisory, the USCG issued a precautionary Navigational Warning on March 18, 2011 advising vessels to avoid transiting within 50 miles of the Fukushima nuclear power plant and has implemented additional protocols for vessels sailing within 50 miles of the reactors in order to ensure the safety of the U.S. population.

Vessels Arriving at U.S. Ports from Japan

In response to the attacks on the U.S. on 9/11, the CBP began using radiation detection technology at ports of entry and equipped personnel with personal radiation devices to identify any potential health risks. The CBP has not changed its standard of screening protocols for radiation detection in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, but the USCG will perform additional screening of the vessels transiting within the 50-mile area prior to entry into a U.S. port. The USCG has also issued field guidance to all Sectors related to the potential radiation and directed field...