Over 350 rescue workers and experts from seven countries, as well as participants from the IAEA and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), participated in the largest maritime nuclear emergency preparedness field exercise ever held in Europe. The exercise, which forms a part of the Arctic Radiation Exercise in High North 2023, or "Arctic Reihn", was launched in Norway, 9 May 2023, and took place over three days in Bodø, northern Norway.
The large scale radiation monitoring exercise aimed to activate and test the assistance mechanisms set up through the IAEA Response and Assistance Network (RANET) and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This is the first time these two assistance mechanisms for nuclear and radiological emergencies have been activated together in an exercise.
Many ships in the Arctic region have nuclear propulsion or carry cargo that includes radioactive matter and plans to launch commercial cargo ships powered by small modular reactors are under consideration. At the same time, resources in the Arctic can be few and far between, and in some cases the closest emergency responders may be located across international borders. As experts anticipate that the number of nuclear-powered military, commercial and passenger vessels in the Arctic will continue to increase, there is increasing interest in to strengthen arrangements for international assistance in radiation measurements and decontamination if any accidents would occur.
“The risk of nuclear maritime accidents is real,” Astrid Liland, Director, Department of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) said. "These events could happen anywhere in open waters or along the coast. In Arctic areas, it could be particularly challenging to manage such accidents as resources are scarce and often far apart, the climate is harsh, and there are dark, Polar nights during part of the year. By working together and sharing expertise, the participants hope to ensure that they are fully prepared to respond to any such accidents should they occur.”
