

Press Information Bureau   Government of India

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Ministry of Defence





FIRM ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE FOR  PORT CALL BY USS NIMITZ AT CHENNAI





17:29 IST





USS  Nimitz  will  be  anchoring  off  Chennai  during  its  scheduled  port   call  from  01  to  05  JuIy  2007.  This  is  not  the  first  visit  by  a  nuclear   powered ship to an Indian port. In fact, The Indian navy has operated  INS  Chakra,  a  nuclear  powered  submarine,  from  1988  to  1991.   Additionally,  nuclear  powered  ships  and  submarines  from  France,   United Kingdom and United States have visited Indian ports. Notable  amongst them was the French Aircraft Carrier ‘Charles De Gaulle’ that  had called at Goa in April 2004 and again in April 2006.

In  fact,  the  process  of  clearing  a  harbour  for  berthing  of  nuclear   vessels evolved when INS Chakra was inducted into the Indian Navy  on  05  Jan  1988  This  included  survey  by  an  Environmental  Survey  Committee  (ESC)  constituted  by  the  Scientific  Advisor  to  Defence   Minister. A Radiation Safety Contingency Plan was also drawn up and  implemented prior to berthing of INS Chakra.

In  2001,  the  Indian  Navy  conducted  the  ‘International  Fleet  Review’   during which the French Nuclear Submarine Perle berthed in Mumbai  harbour  from 15  to  20  February.  For  this  purpose  the  Environmental  Safety Committee, as per ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ carried out  a complete survey and examination of Mumbai harbour.

The  procedure  that  is  followed  for  any  nuclear  powered  ship  or   submarine  berthing in any  Indian  port  is  well  established  since  1988   and involves the following:

(a)  The  Environmental  Safety  Committee  is  intimated  by  the   Ministry of Defence of an impending visit by a nuclear powered ship or  submarine. Thereafter the ESC proceeds to the port well in advance  before  the  arrival  of  the  nuclear  powered  vessel  and  carries  out  a   survey.

(b)  Movement  of  the  nuclear  powered  ship  takes  place  only   during  daylight  hours,  in  good  visibility  and  with  escort  tugs  in   attendance.

(c)  No  other  ship  is  berthed  within  200  metres  radius  of  the   nuclear powered ship.

(d) Ships berthed within 600 metres of the berth are kept at short  notice, not exceeding tour hours, to get underway.

(e)   Radiation  monitoring  laboratories  manned  by  Defence   Research  and  Development  Organisation  (DRDO)  /  Bhabha  Atomic   Research  Centre  (BARC)  scientists  and  Defence  personnel,  set  up   onboard  a  suitable  ship,  undertake  frequent  monitoring  of  water  and   air samples.

(f)   Two  safety  zones  are  established  around  the  nuclear



powered ship:

(i) Zone I (up to a radius of 0.2 km). Only authorised personnel  enter  this  zone  and  quick  evacuation  should  be  possible  in  an   emergency.

(ii) Zone  II  up to  a  radius  of  0.6  km).  Local  population  is

permitted within this zone.

(iii)  Only authorised  personnel  and  items  leave  the  nuclear   powered ship.

Accordingly,  a  standing  ESC  has  carried  out  a  detailed  survey  at   Chennai  and  cleared  the  visit  of  USS  Nimitz  from  Radiation  Hazard   point  of  view.  A  stringent  radiation  monitoring  protocol  is  in  place   which  shall,  at  periodic  intervals,  monitor  and  analyse  air  and  water   samples. These activities shall be conducted under the ambit of a well  rehearsed  Radiation Safety  Contingency  Plan under  the stewardship   of  a  Crisis  Management  Group  and  Crisis  Management  Cell   comprising  scientists  from  DRDO,  BARC,  Defence  Laboratory,   Jodhpur, Representatives of the Chennai Port Trust and Indian Navy.

It  is  pertinent  to  mention  that  a  number  of  nuclear  powered  vessels   belonging  to  different  navies  have  so  far  visited  Indian  parts  from   2001 to 2006. The details are as follows:

Dates  Ship  Country Port

15-20 Feb 2001  FNS Perle  France  Mumbai

15-19 Apr 04  FNS Charles De Gaulle France  Goa   15-19 Apr 04  FNS Amethyst  France  Goa

03-05 Oct 04  USS Alexandria  USA  Goa

09-11 Oct 04  USS Alexandria  USA  Goa

28-29 Sep 05 ,  USS Santa Fe  USA  Goa

03-08 Oct 05 USS Santa Fe  USA  Goa

29 Mar-02 Apr O FNS Charles De GauIe France Goa  19-23 May 06  HMS Sovereign  UK  Goa

30 Oct -03 Nov 06  USS Providence  USA  Goa

SK/samir/raj



