Fukushima experts take Toxic Drums' advice

It seems someone at the Fukushima plant must have been reading the Toxic Drums blog "Let's just chuck it in the sea!" because just after I suggested getting an oil tanker to store the radioactive seawater from the plant they have ordered a giant ship to do just that.

Well done nuclear experts at Fukushima!

It appears from an article in the Montreal Gazette titled "Japan calls on Russian expertise" dated 5 April that the Japanese ordered a floating containment vessel from the Russians to handle the radioactive seawater. The Russian vessel was apparently developed to help with the decommissioning of nuclear submarines in Russia. Five days later on 10 April the NZHerald reported that "Japan continues disposal of nuclear waste" and the article mentions the procurement of this Russian ship to help dispose of the liquid nuclear waste seawater.

There were reports that suggested the vessel might be the Lepse. The Lepse is a floating waste storage vessel which began life in 1934 when they started building it as an icebreaker. The Second World War interrupted its construction and work was restarted in the late 1950s when due to its strength as an ice breaker it seemed a good vessel for storing nuclear waste including nuclear waste liquids like seawater. It seemed unlikely this was the vessel because it is being used as a permanent storage device and is currently full of nuclear waste and moored on the outskirts of Murmansk.

More research revealed it is the Landysh. Landysh translates to Lily of the Valley in English and Suzuran in Japanese and is one of the world's largest liquid radioactive waste (LRW) treatment plants. It was built in 1998 after a report in 1993 revealed that the Russians were dumping radioactive waste into the Sea of Japan. The vessel is currently moored near to the port of Vladivostok and will soon be heading towards the beleaguered nuclear power station at Fukushima.

Related web pages:
Masks, radiation meters and the "Landysh"
Russia: Landysh Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant
Russian “Landysh” turns radioactive waste into distilled water
Japanese reporters see Landysh in action
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Photos 4
DayLife
Construction of a Low-level Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant, "Suzuran"
Japan seeks Russian help to end N-crisis