Navsregs>Ship Certification>Irradiated Nuclear Fuel
Carrying Irradiated fuel, Plutonium and high level waste on board ships
Back to the certificates again, this time one that applies to a small number of specialised vessels.
Why is the certificate required?
It is required by The international code for the safe carriage of packaged irradiated fuel, Plutonium and high level waste on board ships (INF code.)
What other document is required by the INF code?
Every ship carrying INF cargo shall carry on board a shipboard emergency plan.
What information is contained on the Certificate?
- Particulars of ship
- Name of ship
- Distinctive number or letters
- Port of registry
- Gross tonnage
- IMO Number
- INF class of ship
- Completion date of the survey on which this certificate is based
The certificate must be drawn up in the official language of the issuing country. If the language used is neither English, French or Spanish, the text should include a translation into one of these languages
What Surveys are required?
The Harmonised System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) does not apply, however, the UK MCA recommend that the surveys and certification are harmonised with other Convention certificates where practicable.
The Surveys
- An Initial Survey
- An Annual Survey, within three months before or after each anniversary date of the Certificate, other than where an intermediate survey is required
- An Intermediate Survey, within three months before or after the second or third anniversary date of the Certificate;
- A Renewal Survey
The INF code
This code is required by SOLAS Chapter VII Carriage of dangerous goods Part D-Special requirements for the carriage of packaged irradiated fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive wastes on board ships.
The code applies to All ships, regardless of date and size carrying INF. It does not apply to warships and naval auxiliary warships used for non commercial purposes.
Click here for the IMO INF website>
What is INF cargo?
“INF cargo” means packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high‐level radioactive wastes carried as cargo in accordance with class 7 of the IMDG Code.”
“Irradiated nuclear fuel” means material containing uranium, thorium and/or plutonium isotopes which has been used to maintain a self‐sustaining nuclear chain reaction.” INF code
Contents of the INF code
The chapter headings of the code give a good overview of the requirements of INF carriage.
- Chapter 1 General
- Chapter 2 Damage stability
- Chapter 3 Fire safety measures
- Chapter 4 ‐ Temperature control of cargo spaces
- Chapter 5 ‐ Structural consideration
- Chapter 6 ‐ Cargo securing arrangements
- Chapter 7 ‐ Electrical power supplies
- Chapter 8 ‐ Radiological protection
- Chapter 9 ‐ Management and training
- Chapter 10 ‐ Shipboard emergency plan
- Chapter 11 ‐ Notification in the event of an incident involving INF cargo
A Fact Sheet
The World Nuclear Transport institution have a useful fact sheet on the INF code, Click here to download>
Click here for the WNTI website>
Navsregs 