Communication Concerning the Transportation of Radioactive Material: Routine and Crisis

Paper prepared by Julian Ludbrook Special Adviser on Nuclear Safety Issues New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

Outline Concerns and interests of Coastal States Concerns and interests of Coastal States Relevant principles, rules and practice Relevant principles, rules and practice Improved arrangements to serve the interests of Shipping and Coastal States Improved arrangements to serve the interests of Shipping and Coastal States

Concerns and Interests of Coastal States Face threat of very substantial (yet indeterminate) harm Face threat of very substantial (yet indeterminate) harm Compounded by perceived risk and consequent economic losses Compounded by perceived risk and consequent economic losses Yet many derive no benefit Yet many derive no benefit

High Political Sensitivity/Need for Quick Response and Information If an accident, political leaders need to be able to respond immediately If an accident, political leaders need to be able to respond immediately Social media have heightened the immediacy and pressure Social media have heightened the immediacy and pressure Need to have information to hand about accident and response Need to have information to hand about accident and response

Communication of Information in Advance So Coastal State needs to have lines of communication in place So Coastal State needs to have lines of communication in place And to have key information in advance And to have key information in advance Can then respond in a reassuring and timely way Can then respond in a reassuring and timely way (Continued) (Continued)

Communication of Information in Advance (Continued) Can coordinate over plans for rescue of people and containment of damage/risk Can coordinate over plans for rescue of people and containment of damage/risk Serves interests of Shipping State as well as Coastal State Serves interests of Shipping State as well as Coastal State

Relevant Principles, Rules and Practice Principles Duty / responsibility of States to: protect environment protect environment ensure their activities don’t damage environment of others ensure their activities don’t damage environment of others cooperate to prevent or minimise risk of causing significant transboundary harm cooperate to prevent or minimise risk of causing significant transboundary harm

Relevant Principles, Rules and Practice Rules Prior notification and consent required for the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes non-radioactive hazardous wastes- Basel Convention non-radioactive hazardous wastes- Basel Convention radioactive waste - IAEA Code of Practice on International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste radioactive waste - IAEA Code of Practice on International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste

Relevant Principles, Rules and Practice Rules (continued) spent fuel and radioactive waste - Joint Convention on Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Safety of Radioactive Waste Management spent fuel and radioactive waste - Joint Convention on Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

Relevant Principles, Rules and Practice Rules (continued) Transport of nuclear material close by the territorial sea or EEZ poses similar risks Transport of nuclear material close by the territorial sea or EEZ poses similar risks Harm to fish stocks, beaches, tourism industry Harm to fish stocks, beaches, tourism industry Possibly also to people and economic activity on-shore Possibly also to people and economic activity on-shore Similar case exists for sharing of information in advance Similar case exists for sharing of information in advance

Information needed in advance Name of vessel Name of vessel Date of departure, planned route and destination Date of departure, planned route and destination Type and volume of cargo Type and volume of cargo Assurances concerning non-entry into territorial sea and EEZ Assurances concerning non-entry into territorial sea and EEZ Details of vessel’s emergency response planning Details of vessel’s emergency response planning

Information needed in advance Related issues Management of security considerations Management of security considerations Some information (e.g. ERP) could be shared bilaterally Some information (e.g. ERP) could be shared bilaterally

Communication after Accident Need to notify information about accident to Coastal State Need to notify information about accident to Coastal State Facilitated if pre-established lines of communication and advance knowledge of ERP Facilitated if pre-established lines of communication and advance knowledge of ERP Need for : close collaboration close collaboration provision of accurate and timely information to public/media provision of accurate and timely information to public/media monitoring of any release of radiation monitoring of any release of radiation

Conclusion Great sensitivity around accidents involving nuclear material Great sensitivity around accidents involving nuclear material Immense pressure on Coastal State to respond quickly if an accident Immense pressure on Coastal State to respond quickly if an accident So points of contact and key information need to be exchanged in advance So points of contact and key information need to be exchanged in advance Need to systematise best practice in set of guidelines Need to systematise best practice in set of guidelines