Lessons Learned from the Studsvik Ir-192 Transport Incident

Shipment Overview Studsvik Nuclear AB (Studsvik) produces isotopes that are used for industrial radiography. Specifically, Studsvik supplies large quantities of iridium-192 (Ir-192) in the form of thin, metallic wafers to U.S. customers. This material is used in to manufacture radiography sources used in cameras throughout the United States and the world. On December 27, 2001, Studsvik made a routine shipment of 366 TBq of Ir-192 from their facility in Nykoping, Sweden to Source Production and Equipment Company (SPEC) in New Orleans, LA. Studsvik made the shipment using a Type B(U) package, the Croft 2835A, which had been approved by the United Kingdom under Certificate of Competent Authority No. GB/2835A/B(U)-85 and the United States of America under Certificate of Competent Authority No. USA/0382/B(U)-85. The package was carried by motor vehicle approximately 200 kilometers from Nykoping to the Stockholm-Arlanda airport by a private carrier; flown via Paris (Roissy airport) to Memphis, Tennessee by Federal Express; and carried by tandem trailer to New Orleans, LA. The package was stored in a cargo centre at the New Orleans airport during New Year holiday and was picked up by a representative of SPEC and brought a short distance (2-3 km) in a small truck to their facility.