10th March 2010

WEYMOUTH: Emergency nuclear incident exercise

AN emergency planning exercise is due to be held on Portland today (Wednesday) to practice response to a nuclear incident.

Teams from the Royal Navy and Maritime and Coastguard Agency will practice the distribution of potassium iodate tablets to premises in the area around Portland Port.

An exercise spokesman said: “The tablets help protect people from the effects of radioactive iodine which could escape in the unlikely event of a reactor accident.”

He added that it formed part of the Nuclear Accident Emergency Plan which is in place to react to the remote possibility of a nuclear accident occurring during the visit of a nuclear powered warship to the port.

The exercise will be closely watched by regulators, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator so that it can demonstrate to them that proper plans and practices are in place.

The spokesman said: “People should be reassured that the plan caters for the worst case scenario and that it would be a highly unlikely event. Nuclear-powered submarines have been operated safely for over 40 years.”

The exercise will involve teams of about 12 Royal Naval and Maritime and Coastguard Agency personnel delivering an information booklet through letter boxes to imitate the distribution of tablets.

Anyone receiving a booklet need take no further action other than retaining the booklet in a safe place. A telephone number is printed in the booklet if anyone has any enquiries.

WEYMOUTH: Emergency nuclear incident exercise

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