Government and Policy

SE China port uncontaminated by radiation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-26 14:20

XIAMEN - Southeastern China's Xiamen port is free of radioactive contamination after the entry of a Japanese ship that had been found to have elevated levels of radiation, a local quality and inspection office said Saturday.

The Xiamen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said in a statement that it inspected a vessel named Mol Presence on Tuesday when it berthed at the port.

Elevated levels of radiation were detected on the ship's deck as well as on the outside surfaces of some of its containers, the bureau said, adding that the living quarters were "basically normal".

The vessel left the port at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and was briefly anchored at sea, said the bureau.

The bureau inspected the dock after the departure of the vessel and found no traces of radiation, it said.

According to the bureau, the vessel belongs to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, a Japanese company that offers international bulk transport services.

The bureau said the vessel set off from the U.S. and reached the Japanese capital of Tokyo on Monday, March 17. It then left Tokyo and reached Xiamen on Monday night.