Press Release

*The Center for International Cooperation of NMRI actively contributes to forming international rules by dispatching experts to international conferences that deliberate on regulations and standards for maritime safety and environmental protection, conducting surveys and research to provide technical support, and preparing proposals.

Since 2009, Dr. Konnai has participated in more than 20 regular meetings of the IAEA/TRANSSC and has contributed to reflecting the views of Japan at the discussion. Since 2014, she has served as the secretariat of the National Committee for the IAEA/TRANSSC, playing a significant role in developing the national position. Recognizing her achievements, she has served as the TRANSSC Alternate Member of Japan since 2021.

In 2017, TRANSSC established four Technical Expert Groups (TTEG) on Radiation Protection, Criticality, Package Performance and Assessment, and Operational Matters to address issues in each area of radioactive material transportation. TTEG-OM addresses issues such as clarification of labeling, documentation, and requirements for the stowage of radioactive material on conveyance.

In the last term of TRANSSC, Dr. Konnai led discussions on over 200 proposals to the IAEA Transport Regulations in reviewing by the TTEG-OM and assisted the former chair in summarizing the deliberations. She also contributed to the preparation of the TRANSSC's response to the request from IMO/CCC/E&T (International Maritime Organization/Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers /Editorial and Technical Group) on transport index and criticality safety index** for the stowage requirements of radioactive material in the IMDG Code (International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code).

Due to these achievements, Dr. Konnai was nominated as the chairperson of TTEG-OM by the former chair from the Republic of South Africa and she was elected as the TTEG-OM Chair with the support of all participating countries at TRANSSC 48 held at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, June 10-14, 2024.

Dr. Konnai will continue to actively contribute to discussions on the safe transport of radioactive material at the IAEA, in cooperation with other countries and international organizations involved in transporting radioactive material, and NMRI will fully support her efforts.

** Transport index is an index of external exposure based on the dose rate at a distance of 1 meter from the radioactive material to be transported; criticality safety index is an index of assessed likelihood of criticality of a fissile material to be transported. The IAEA Transport Regulations and the IMDG Code specify the limits based on these indexes for stowage in holds, compartments, defined deck areas, and vessels. However, there are some inconsistencies between the two regulations, and discussions continue to resolve them.

Related Links

  Center for International Cooperation
  Maritime Risk Assessment Department