A cargo ship carrying 23 containers of zinc dust contaminated with radioactive material has been stranded off the coast of the Philippines after being rejected by Indonesian authorities and denied entry at Manila’s port.
The ship, which arrived from Indonesia several days ago, remains anchored at sea as no port or local authority has agreed to accept the containers for temporary storage or disposal, according to Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) Director Carlo Arcilla.
Arcilla stated that port authorities will not allow the ship to dock or unload unless a designated area is identified for the hazardous cargo. He clarified that the materials pose no immediate danger to the public since radiation levels outside the containers are very low and the crew onboard remain in good health.
The radioactive material consists of zinc powder tainted with the isotope cesium-137, which was exported from the Philippines to Indonesia by Zannwann
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