CBRN event in Netherlands on Mon 12th February 2007

On February 12th 2007 the Inspectorate was notified by a metalscrap dealer that they had a radiation alarm of their portal detector. Using handheld survey equipment an enhanced radiation level at the surface of a 20 ft container of 5 milliSieverts per hour could be determined. The container was unloaded by a firm specialised in tracing and recovering radioactive sources in scrap. The container was completely filled with pressed packages of stainless steel scrap, with dimensions of approximatley 85 x 40 x 15 centimeters. An enchanced radiadition level at the surface of one these packages of 140 milliSieverts per hour (6,5 milliSieverts per hour on 1 meter) was measured, due to the presence of ceasium-137. We assume that an unshielded source was enclosed in the package. The activity of the source was calculated to be at least 70 GBq. In the annex you can find a picture of the package.The scrapload was traded by Ahmad Safaei, Teheran, Iran. The container identification number is CRXU 255848-0. The container was shipped on January 9th 2007 in Bandar Abbas, Iran, and transported by vessel Iran Fars (voyage ECL-1344). The container arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, on February 2nd 2007 and shipped to Rotterdam on February 8th 2007. The container arrived at the Barge Centre Waalhaven, Rotterdam, on February 9th 2007 and was transported to the metalscrap dealer on February 12th 2007. The origin of the source inside the package of pressed stainless steel could not be determined. The complete package was transported to COVRA, the radioactive waste facility in the Netherlands, on February 13th 2007.