Safety and Security Measures for the Maritime Transport of Nuclear Material: Technical Standards and Physical Protection

摘要

This paper aims to clarify the technical standards of safety and security measures for the maritime transport of nuclear material. Safe inter-facility transport of plutonium and irradiated nuclear fuel is vital to the function and stability of the nuclear fuel cycle system. To protect the crew, cargo handling workers, and the public from radiation exposure, international technical standards have been developed by the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the International Maritime Organization. These technical standards, like the Code for the Safe Carriage of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium, and High-Level Radioactive Nuclear Wastes in Flasks on Board Ships, have been incorporated into international treaties (e.g., the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) and are therefore critical to the safety and security of nuclear material transport. The member states of these international organizations (e.g., Japan and the Russian Federation) have also introduced domestic legislation consistent with the requirements of these standards. This paper argues that the multilateral instruments, bilateral agreements, domestic laws, and technical standards that represent the guardian aspect of routine activity theory are the key to establishing an integrated international legal scheme ensuring the safety and security of the maritime transport of nuclear material.