Radioactive Ship Drifting in North Sea, Oil Platform Evacuated

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED 09.10.2014

A ship carrying radioactive materials is drifting in North Sea after a fire broke out in one of its engines and as a result a nearby oil platform has been evacuated, BBC news.

The ship, named the Parida, was carrying highly radioactive concrete waste from Scrabster to Antwerp when a large fire broke out in one of her funnels. The ship lost power and is now drifting towards the Beatrice oil platform, reports the Scottish Daily record.

As a precautionary measure, 52 people have been evacuated from the oil platform by the RAF and the Coast Gaurd. 15 people are still on board the ship.

Since the incident, a tow vessel, the Pacific Champion, has been dispatched and has the Parida under tow at the moment. "The coastguard emergency towing vessel from Orkney was tasked to go and prevent the Parida from drifting but before the coastguard vessel arrived on scene the owners agreed a commercial tow with Pacific Champion," said a spokesman for the Coast Guard.

The Scottish government is keeping tabs on the incident. Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment, said “Ministers have been briefed and Scottish Government officials are engaging closely with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the UK Government and key partners to ensure appropriate response arrangements are in place."

The ship is currently 20 nautical miles south east of Wick.

Topics: Security, Nuclear ships, Europe

Other news:

Rosenergoatom: Ukraine Fully and Timely Delivers Equipment for Russian Nuclear Plants

For us, products made by Ukrainian manufacturers are very important.

Finnish Government Approves Rosatom Nuclear Reactor Project

Ten ministers voted in favor of granting the application, while seven ministers voted against.

Prime Minister: Finland to Continue Nuclear Cooperation With Russia Despite Sanctions

If we look at Rosatom's activities, there have been no problems whatsoever.

Hero of the day

The ISTC Responsible Science Program and Subprogram Culture of Nuclear Nonproliferation

The dual-use nature of nuclear technology consisting in the potential for its application equally in peaceful and military sphere is the basic contradiction for the existing nuclear nonproliferation regime and comprehensive development of the nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle.

INTERVIEW

Jerry Hopwood
We are currently working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on this approach, which was submitted in response to their February 2012 call for alternative proposals. We appreciate that the UK is in the early stages of their policy development activities and are pleased to be involved in such important work.

OPINION

Joint Plan of Action
The goal for these negotiations is to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iran's nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek or develop any nuclear weapons.