|
Title:
|
|
Detection and monitoring systems for the prevention of illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials at sea ports in EU member states
|
|
|
|
Author(s):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Published by:
|
Publication date:
|
|
ECN
NUCLEAIR
|
1-7-1998
|
|
|
|
ECN report number:
|
Document type:
|
|
ECN-RX--98-046
|
Article (scientific)
|
|
|
|
Number of pages:
|
|
|
4
|
|
Published in: To be presented at the International conference on safety of radiation sources and security of radioactive materials, organized (), , , Vol., p.-.
Abstract:
Illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear materials at sea ports maybe considered as a serious problem. For this reason, a feasibility study has
been carried out in order to investigate the detection possibilities of
nuclear materials hidden in cargo which is handled at sea ports. Special
attention is given to cargo packed in and transported with freight
containers. Detection methods depend upon the measurement of gammas and
neutrons, emitted by the nuclear material which is hidden. Detection limits
of existing monitoring systems are unknown for geometrical configurations
comparable to those specific at sea ports. For this reason calculations were
carried out by means of the MCNP-4A Monte Carlo code in order to estimate
these detection limits. These calculations are related to passive and active
neutron assay, localised gamma sources and contaminated iron scrap. Results
of this study are that radioactive materials can be detected without major
problems. Passive neutron assay allows the detection of nuclear material in
relative small quantities of plutonium in the absence of any deliberate
neutron shielding, whereas in the case of dense neutron shielding, detection
limits of several kilos of plutonium are obtained. A promising method appears
to be a gamma- and neutron monitoring system in combination with an existing
X-ray scan installation for cargo verification of container content. The
detection probability is further increased when extra intelligence is applied
about the origin and route of the cargo. 2 refs.
Back to List