HC Deb 24 May 1990 vol 173 c288W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the typical annual radiation dose equivalent exposure for crew members serving on board ships for a typical voyage duration owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd., and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

Over the period 1983 to 1989 inclusive, the average annual radiation dose received by crew members serving on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 mSv. Over the same period the maximum annual radiation dose received by an individual was between 0.5 and 1.7 mSv.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions within the last 15 years there has been an accidental release of radiation or exceptional levels of emission from irradiated fuel flasks or other radioactive material containers on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

There have been no significant releases of radioactivity from irradiated fuel flasks or other radioactive material containers on board ships owned and operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd. Transporting spent fuel by sea has been carried out safely since the mid-1960s.