Japan Update
The situation in Fukushima is still, at present, a cause for concern. Merchant shipping operating within Japanese waters are recommended to adhere to the navigational warnings broadcasted by Japanese authorities including monitoring all NAVAREA warnings issued through marine radio broadcasts, NAVTEX transmissions and satellite communications.
The Government of Japan is still enforcing a mandatory exclusion zone around the damaged nuclear facility at Fukushima with a radius extending 20 kilometres seaward from the facility. However, certain flag states including Australia are stating that merchant shipping should avoid the facility with an cautionary zone extending seaward from the facility by a minimum of 30 kilometres.
It is known that certain shipping companies have imposed their own cautionary zone for their ships in excess of 100 kilometres. It is recommended that ships should comply as a minimum with their own flag state’s guidance and that of the Japanese authorities.
The Japanese authorities are continuing to monitor radiation levels within Tokyo Bay as well as those surrounding ports in Japan. A copy of up to date radiation levels can be found attached to this email. At present, the radiation levels appear to be within safe limits and currently there are no travel restrictions for aviation or shipping other than the mandatory exclusion zone surrounding
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Source: The Standard P&I Club
