CBRN event in Netherlands on Mon 11th April 2005

On April 11, 2005 the Inspectorate was notified by a metalscrap dealer that they had a radiation alarm of their portal detector. Using handheld survey equipment they measured an enhanced radiation level at the surface of a 40 ft container of 30 microSieverts per hour. The container was unloaded by a firm specialised in tracing and recovering radioactive sources in scrap. Three identical stainless steel source holders with in each source holder a caesium-137 source were found. The source holders contained no shutter mechanisms. Each source holder weighs about 40 kilograms and measures 26 centimeters in length and has a diameter of 28 centimeters. Two source holders contained identification marks: 50 mCi, Cs-137, 1-95, USA DOT 7A Type A, Kay-Ray/Sensall, (708) 803 5100, Model 7063S, Serial S95H0201 (source holder #1) and 200 mCi, Cs-137, 7-94, Model 7063S, Serial S94L1404 (source holder #3). The dose rate at the surface of the three separate source holders was about 4,5, 4,2 and 17 milliSieverts per hour. The activity of the separate sources was approximately 1,85 GBq, 1,85 Gbq and 7,4 GBq. In the annex you can find pictures of one of the recovered sources.The scrapload was traded by Royce Corporation, Florida, USA. The container identification number is MLCU 436319-0. The container was shipped on March 14th 2005 in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, and transported by MS Sierra Expres. The container arrived in Rotterdam on April 6, 2005 and was transported to Jewometaal on April 11, 2005. The origin of the three sources could not be determined. The sources have been secured and will be transported to COVRA, the radioactive waste facility in the Netherlands.