Scrapping nuclear maintenance ships in the Primorsky Kray

Abstract

Object and purpose of research. Reduction of radiation pollution risk for water areas of the Primorsky Kray, development of scrapping plans for nuclear maintenance ships. Materials and methods. The case study of scrapping a serially produced Project 326M floating maintenance base is used to analyse the ways to accomplish the task of scrapping a radiation-hazardous object potentially dangerous for its crew and surrounding population, as well as characterized by a deplorable state of her hull structures, which makes emergency scuttlingradiation safety and costs. Main results. Development of scrapping plans for nuclear maintenance ships involved feasibility study of various scrapping options. The results of this analysis served to develop one storage package of the nuclear maintenance ship intended for long-term storage on a solid pad at Ustrichny long-term nuclear waste storage site. The key criterion in the selection of the preferable option was to ensure radiation safety of the personnel taking into account extremely dire radiation environment aboard the ship. The results of this development were organizational scrapping plan for the nuclear waste ship at Berth 2 of Ustrichny site, as well as technological solutions on the site’s upgrade. Conclusion. According to the organizational & technological plan of scrapping Project 326 (326M), nuclear maintenance ships TNT-50, TNT-16 and TNT-4 were scrapped at Ustrichny site in 2013-2015. The scrappings were performed with the minimum effect of technological processes and waste upon the environment.

Keywords

• nuclear maintenance ship
• floating technical base
• radioactive waste
• Far Eastern region
• liquid radioactive waste
• solid radioactive waste
• long-term storage site for reactor compartments