The Russian Northern Fleet possesses a number of service ships that are used for the transportation and storage of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. A number of these ships were originally used for collecting liquid and solid radioactive wastes which were then dumped in the Barents and Kara Seas. (For a more detailed discussion of Russian dumping practices, see Bellona report no. 1 - 1994.) [266]
Most of the service ships are connected to the navy yards where nuclear submarines are serviced. At the present time, there are six tankers for liquid radioactive waste in commission with the Northern Fleet. In addition, seven ships/barges are used for the storage of spent fuel. Some of the vessels used for the transportation and storage of spent fuel are also capable of storing liquid waste. Most of the service ships do not comply with current safety standards.[267] The main reason for this is that the ships are old and run down, and routine maintenance has been neglected. All of the tankers in Project 1783 A - Vala class are more than 25 years old.
Even when firm instructions for repair are specifically given, they are rarely followed. The Russian Ministry of Defence's central committee for radiation safety has prohibited the further use of some of the ships for the transportation and storage of radioactive waste. However, the Northern Fleet Command has elected to overlook these instructions.[268]
Many of the service ships lack the instrumentation for radiation measurements, and dosimeter checks for the crew are very infrequent. Though they may still remain in service, 84 % of the tanks and tankers for liquid waste are classified as damaged.[269] Documentation on the ship, its condition and its cargo, although mandatory, is often unsatisfactory. Breaches of regulations are especially common with regards to the transportation of spent nuclear fuel. It has been reported that the ships are often manned by crews of less than half the necessary complement and the men are lacking in education and training.[270] Furthermore, some of the equipment used in loading and unloading the waste is in very poor technical condition. The transport routes of these ships are described in Chapter 7.
The Northern Fleet operates specially constructed tankers of Project 1783 A - Vala class to transport and store liquid radioactive waste on the Kola peninsula. These vessels are based at Zapadnaya Litsa, Gadzhievo, Gremikha and Severodvinsk.[271] In addition to these comes Amur of Project 11510 - Belyanka class. The rebuilt tanker Osetiya is based at Severodvinsk. Even though the ship still contains liquid radioactive waste, she is no longer in active service.[272] The Northern Fleet also operates numerous PE-50 type floating tanks, each of which can store up to 50 m³ of liquid radioactive waste.[273]
The transfer of liquid waste from submarine reactors is conducted through hose pipes to storage tanks inside the service ships whereupon the waste is transported to the storage facilities at Andreeva Bay or to the treatment plant for liquid radioactive waste at the Atomflot base for civilian nuclear icebreakers in Murmansk.
Service ships play an important part in the refuelling of nuclear submarines. During refuelling operations, the submarine is usually placed between the service ship and the quay side. Derricks on the service ship are used to remove the spent nuclear fuel and to replace it with fresh fuel elements. (See Chapter 7 for a discussion on the handling and transportation of spent fuel.) The Northern Fleet operates six vessels in two classes for this purpose, the Project 2020 - Malina class and the Project 326/326 M class.[293] The vessels of Project 326 are the oldest (more than 30 years) most run down of the service ships. The navy prefers to use the two ships of the Malina class when refuelling the nuclear submarines, but even these have technical deficiencies.[294] One of the Northern Fleet Malina class ships cannot be certified until repairs have been made, but the ship remains in active service despite this.[295] Nor are any of the four Project 326 M class ships certified, but these too are presently loaded with spent nuclear fuel.[296]
The rebuilt freighter Severka was originally used for the transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel.[297] In the 1960s, design work was commenced on the Bulba class ship which was capable of undertaking refuelling operations at sea. One ship of this type was built and tested in Severodvinsk, but the test results were disappointing. Subsequently, further work on the project was dropped.[298]
[266] Nilsen, T and Bøhmer, N.,
Sources of Radioactive Contamination in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Counties,.
Bellona Report no.1 :1994. Return
[267] Gosatomnadzor has conducted several
inspections in co-operation with navy agencies and is referred to in documents
of 1993 and 1994. Return
[268]
Mormul, N. Note, 1995. Return
[269]
Komsomolskaya Pravda, June 23, 1995. Return
[270] Gosatomnadzor has
conducted several inspections in co-operation with navy agencies and are
referred to in documents of 1993 and 1994. Return
[271] Mormul, N. Note, 1995. Return
[272] Handbook On implementation
plan for handling of nuclear waste and spent fuel on Severodvinsk territory,
Summer 1994. Return
[273]
Mormul, N. Note, 1995. Return
[293]
Perovsky, V. A., Handbook presented to the Murmansk County Committee for Ecology
and Natural Resources, 1992. Return
[294] Office of Technology Assessment, Nuclear
Waste in the Arctic: An Analysis of Arctic and Other Regional Impacts from
Soviet Nuclear Contamination, 1995. Return
[295] Documentation of Gosatomnadzor
inspection, November, 1993. Return
[296] Kværner Moss Technology AS, Disposal
of Nuclear Submarines, January 19, 1996. Return
[297] Perovsky, V. A., Handbook presented
to the Murmansk County committee for Ecology and Natural Resources, 1992.
Return
[298]
Osipenko, L., Shiltsov, L. and Mormul, N., Atomnaya Podvodnaya Epopeya,
1994. Return