Q1.
What is the purpose of this guideline?

A1. 
After the accident of Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant, radiation measurements at foreign port have been strengthened due to the concerns over radioactive contamination on cargos and ships from Japan. And some shipping lines have avoided making a call.

With this situation, foreign government, ship operators and/or other related parties required the official attestation for radiation measurement of containers and ships from Japan

To eliminate the concerns over radioactive contamination for containers and ships from Japan through attesting to the radiation level for them, MLIT has developed the guideline on radiation measurement for export containers and ships in ports.

Q2.　
Does this guideline obligate companies to measure radiation rate level for all export containers from Japan?

A2.
No.
This guideline provides the manner of measurement.
When ship operators or the other related parties need the attestation of radiation dose rate for export containers, they request the port authority to conduct measurement or to confirm the manner of measurement.
(See chap. 4 “Attestation”)

Q3.
Does this guideline obligate companies to obtain the attestations for all export containers from Japan?

A3.
No.
The attestation is issued on the request from ship operators or the other related parties.The attestation scheme will be introduced at each container terminal.

Q4.
What are the advantages of obtaining the attestation for ship operators or other related parties?

A4.
When a foreign port authority requires the attestation of radiation dose rate for export containers, ship operators or other related parties can exhibit it to prevent from export prohibition or delay.

Some port authorities are now considering that customs inspections are being simplified by exhibition of the attestation.

Q5.
What kind of license is required for surveyor?

A5.
This guideline does not call for surveyor to take special license, but they should have general knowledge about the measurement of radiation dose rate such as equipments and methods. MLIT or port authorities confirm an ability of surveyor before the start of issuing the attestation.

All surveyors participated in a training course for the measurement of radiation dose rate at the port of Yokohama and Tokyo.

Q6.
What kind of license is required for decontamination worker?

A6.
This guideline does not call for decontamination worker to take special license when the container is decontaminated at the level of less than 5μSv/h.

Q7.
How do MLIT and port authorities administer the attestation procedure?

A7.
MLIT and port authorities shall confirm the method of measurement, measurement equipments and ability of surveyor for the measurement of radiation dose rate before the beginning of attesting in respond to application from ship operators or other parties,

Contact procedures among related organizations, the way to decontaminate containers and the area of decontamination in case of exceeding the criteria shall be decided among MLIT, port authorities, ship operators or other related parties, surveyors and the decontamination workers.

Furthermore, MLIT and port authorities confirm whether the measurement is implemented based on the guideline at regular intervals after the start of issuing the attestation.

Q8. 
Does each port follow in a unified way about the method of measurement or decontamination?

A8.
No.
Some of them such as the areas where containers are measured or decontaminated, method of decontamination and application form of attestation depend on the situation of each terminal.

Q9.
 Are cargo owners able to apply the attestation?
A9.
No.
The attestation is issued based on guideline only for ship operators or other parties, not for cargo owners.

Q10.
To whom do cargo owners apply when they want to take an attestation?

A10.
Cargo owners apply to ship operators or other related parties or apply to port authorities directly.

MLIT doesn’t issue to cargo owners but to ship operators when port authorities decide to issue the attestation and require for MLIT after ship operators or other related parties and port authorities agree with.
 

Q11.
 Is it possible for cargo owners to obtain an original attestation when it was issued to ship operators or other related parties?

A11.
 The attestation is issued to an applicant such as ship operators or other related parties, therefore cargo owners should ask ship operators or other related parties when they want to obtain the attestation.

Q12.
Is it possible to issue an attestation of a cargo?

A12.
No.
This guideline is developed for an export container.
Therefore, MLIT does not issue an attestation of a cargo.

Q13.
Who covers the related cost of issuing the attestation and measuring radiation dose rate?

A13.
Although issuing the attestation will not incur the costs, the person who needs the measurement will cover the related cost of measuring radiation dose rate.

Q14.
Is there any funding program by Japanese government to the measurement of radiation dose rate for export containers?

A14.
“Trade Facilitation Projects” by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is available for export containers.
Please see following URL; http://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/business/

Q15.
Why unit basis is not α ray or β ray but γ ray?

A15.
Survey meter can be categorized into 2 types roughly; 1) α, β ray can be detected with Bq/cm² (defined as the activity of quantity of radioactive material) and 2) γ ray can be detected normally with Sv/h (measured the equivalent dose rate of radiation supposed to have a damaging effect equivalent to the same dose of gamma rays).

The reason why unit basis is γ ray as follows;
Since it is difficult to measure the activity of quantity of radioactive material (Bq/cm²) from α, β ray, it takes a lot of time when surveyor measures it around the port and might cause mulfunction of cargo handling at port.

Some countries take γ ray for criteria with 1st screening even if they take α, β ray for criteria.


Q16.
What is the reason for setting “Criteria of Decontamination” as three times the measured background dose rate, and “Criteria for report” as 5μSv/h?

A16.
“Criteria of Decontamination”;
In accordance with the IAEA technical document, IAEA-TECDOC-1162, the value to require decontamination of a container is provided as three times the measured background dose rate.

“Criteria for report”;
In accordance with the IMDG Code, paragraph 7.1.14.12, the value to require port authorities or terminal operators to inform related organizations before decontamination is provided as 5μSv/h.


Q17.
Why did lower detection limit of survey meter change to 150KeV?

A17.
The survey meters with Csl(Tl) scintillator, whose lower detection limit is 150KeV, began to spread into the marketplace. Since survey meters for radiation measurement are now in short supply all over Japan, more survey meters can be available for radiation measurement with changing lower detection limit to 150KeV.

Note that if a lower detection limit of the survey meter changes to 150KeV, there is no problem because the radioactive materials from Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant at this time are iodine 131 and caesium 134, 137, which can be detected by this type of survey meter (this survey meter can detect these materials).

[CONTACT INFORMTION] 

   Security and Emergency Management Office, Ports and Harbours Bureau
   Tel : +81-3-5253-8111 (ext. 46284,46285)
   Tel : +81-3-5253-8070 (direct)
   Fax : +81-3-5253-1648