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Screening for radioactivity on board an ocean-going cargo vessel in a designated anchorage adjacent to the southern boundary of Hong Kong waters this morning (April 8) confirmed that the vessel met the safety standards of Hong Kong.
A free pratique has been issued for the vessel, MOL PRESENCE, to berth in Hong Kong.
Conducted by staff from Port Health Office (PHO) of the Department of Health, the screening was an extra step of caution to ensure that the container vessel was indeed safe for berthing at our container terminal for cargo unloading.
A Government spokesman said, "Updated information re-submitted by the shipping company yesterday for application of a free pratique to enter Hong Kong showed that all radioactivity readings measured were below Hong Kong's intervention level for surface decontamination.
"This followed the submission of an earlier set of information on April 4 which contained data suggestive of exceedances of radioactivity levels at some locations, though not above levels expected to pose risk to Hong Kong's public health."
Thus, to be prudent, due inspection including radiation screening of the vessel, the crew and containers had been conducted before the free pratique was issued by PHO earlier today.
The vessel will proceed to berth alongside Kwai Chung Container Terminal for cargo unloading.
Customs and Excise Department will conduct radioactivity scanning of the cargoes according to established procedure.
MOL PRESENCE underwent decontamination and subsequent radioactivity reassessment in Kobe, Japan after it was found to have radiation contamination by Xiamen port authority in late March.
Ends/Friday, April 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:55
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