Lesson learned from the recovery of an orphan source inside a maritime cargo: analysis of the nuclear instrumentations used, and measures realized during the operations

Abstract

In this paper, the authors analyze the case study of the recovery of an orphan source of 60Co inside a maritime cargo full of metal wastes in the Italian Harbor of Genova carried out by the Italian Fire Fighters. Orphan radioactive sources or Radiological Dispersal Devices are a critical security issue in large geographical areas, and they result in a safety concern for people who may become accidentally exposed to ionizing radiation. The abandonment of orphan sources can usually be related to three factors: human errors, cost reasons (in order to avoid the payment of disposal procedures), or malevolent purposes (like the production of dirty bombs). The present data concern the nuclear safety measures implemented during the recovery event and the pool of procedures carried out in order to reduce the risks for the involved harbor operators. Following data collection and analysis, an important lesson about the management of such events and scenarios can be learned.