Nuclear cruiser denied entry to Cape Town

[Sackboy]

Nuclear cruiser denied entry to Cape Town

January 06 2009 at 11:50AM

By Michelle Jones

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has denied the Russian nuclear cruiser Pyotr Veliky entry into Cape Town next week for not meeting certain requirements.

The regulatory body had received an application from the South African Navy on December 5 for a Nuclear Vessel Licence for the nuclear-powered vessel to visit Cape Town harbour from January 9 to 15.

However, there appeared to be some confusion as the advert appearing in local newspapers last week had the dates as January 12 to 17.

The law requires that the applicant advertise in local newspapers that it had applied for a licence for a nuclear vessel to visit Cape Town. The public thereafter has 30 days to comment.

It is international practice that nuclear ships have to comply with certain requirements before countries allow them into their ports.

The requirements include an emergency plan between the city council and the vessel, a 30-day period of public comment, a safety report supplied by the vessel, and a letter from the country of origin stating it would be liable for nuclear damage in the event of an accident.

NNR spokesperson Gino Moonsamy said on Monday the body was not in a position to grant a nuclear vessel licence as applied for by the SA Navy.

A letter of refusal was sent to the Navy on Friday.

Moonsamy said there was not enough time in terms of public participation and the application didn't comply with various other criteria.

SA Navy spokesperson Greyling van den Berg said it was under the impression the NNR would not grant the licence "at this stage", but it had not been denied outright.

Once outstanding documentation had been given to the body, the NNR would review the application, Van den Berg said.

"If they were to comply with the criteria, the application could be reviewed," Moonsamy said.

But he added the time-frame for the visit would then be affected. Adverts would again have to be placed and an additional 30-day public participation period undertaken.

Moonsamy said the publication of the application in the Government Gazette was first made on December 12. The 30-day period for the public to make representation would extend beyond the date of entry of the vessel on January 9. A certified safety assessment on the docking of the vessel in South African territorial waters had not been provided by an independent Russian regulatory authority.

The statement in the diplomatic note dealing with the strict liability for any nuclear damage was inappropriate. The application had also not been supplemented with a comprehensive emergency plan.

Named after Russian leader Peter the Great, the vessel is said to displace more than 25 000 tons and travels at a top speed of 30 knots.

It carries 20 Granit anti-ship missiles, including nuclear-tipped missiles, 96 S-300F long-range surface-to-air missiles, 96 Kinzhal (Dagger) short-range surface-to-air missiles, a 130mm twin mounting, other short-range anti-aircraft and other weaponry, and three helicopters.

michelle.jones@inl.co.za

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php[/email]?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090106063705649C665589

 

[rwenzori]

Good for the NNR!

 

[Sackboy]

Good for the NNR!

That's odd. You made no comment when the Americans brought that huge nuclear carrier. Explain or someone might think you were trolling ?
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=136878

 

[LazyLion]

didn't they initially also deny the American one?

 

[sox63]

didn't they initially also deny the American one?

They did, and eventually approved it after the process was fully complied with. The same will happen here.

OT: Why the sudden interest of the "super-power" nuclear fleet in SA? Did we discover oil or something?

 

[Sackboy]

didn't they initially also deny the American one?

Their modus seems to be to put up a fight and then relent later to look like they're being effective. I don't recall the exact circumstances, but I believe they bent over backwards to accommodate the Americans and help them with the paperwork. I don't think they have or will do the same for the Russians, for whom English is an obstacle.

 

[Sackboy]

OT: Why the sudden interest of the "super-power" nuclear fleet in SA? Did we discover oil or something?

Well it cant be the women

 

[rwenzori]

That's odd. You made no comment when the Americans brought that huge nuclear carrier. Explain or someone might think you were trolling ?
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=136878

Expressing approval is now trolling? C'mon! How so? You yourself said nothing to disapprove of the article - I would have assumed your approval, unless, of course, YOU were trolling???

TBH I don't recall that other thread - I don't hang out too much in the warm fuzzy section.

In any event:

"Moonsamy said there was not enough time in terms of public participation and the application didn't comply with various other criteria."

 

[Sackboy]

In any event:

"Moonsamy said there was not enough time in terms of public participation and the application didn't comply with various other criteria."

In actual fact, they assigned the task to a new employee at the regulator, then said the documentation was out of order. The problems were to do with public liability and the emergency plan. Corrections would, in turn, require document resubmission and hence, a renewed public participation process.

This is similar to what they said about the other ship. In the US case, the public participation would only end a day or two before arrival!

What I find odd is that the emergency plan would surely be much the same as before?!?

 

[rwenzori]

What I find odd is that the emergency plan would surely be much the same as before?!?

OK, and yes - it would surely be a pretty standard document. Sounds like bureaucracy at work. I wonder what the "other criteria" are.

( Oh, and I am not a supporter of nuclear anything really, just to be clear ).

 

[Sackboy]

OK, and yes - it would surely be a pretty standard document. Sounds like bureaucracy at work. I wonder what the "other criteria" are.

( Oh, and I am not a supporter of nuclear anything really, just to be clear ).

Those are just the preliminary ones. Public notice and participation (30 days), acceptance of liability by the ship owners and an emergency plan. A more detailed inspection takes place upon arrival.

 

[Slootvreter]

Why would they deny this one?

 

[lsuacner]

Hope the sailers ain't too pissed given they can destroy RSA if it pleases them.

 

[Sackboy]

Why would they deny this one?

Some politics maybe? Personally, I hope all nuclear armed vessels would stay away.
Doesn't Australia have a rule about that or is it NZ?

I would like to see the ship though - trying not to sound contradictory -

 

[TooFastTim]

It's NZ. Aus is so far up the US's backside they'll allow them to let off a nuke in their country

There are good reasons the Aussies are very chummy with the US.

 

[Slootvreter]

Nuclear is the way of the future though.

 

[R/SGT]

Why would they deny this one?

Five years ago, a Russian navy chief said the Pyotr Velikiy, launched in 1996, was unfit for service.

According to news reports at the time, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov said the massive 256m-long cruiser "was being poorly maintained".

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-01-06-russian-warship-denied-entry-to-cape-town-harbour

The russian navy doesnt exactly have the best track record when it comes to safety.

Hopefull they sort it out though, would be interesting to visit it

 

[Sackboy]

The russian navy doesnt exactly have the best track record when it comes to safety.

Hopefull they sort it out though, would be interesting to visit it

Five years ago, a Russian navy chief said the Pyotr Velikiy, launched in 1996, was unfit for service.

Five years is a long time to complete a refit. The Russians are flush with cash now. Five years ago we didn't even have a navy!

Most navies have had accidents of some sort. Some cover up better than others. Didn't a US nuclear vessel leak radioactivity in Japanese waters last year some time?

 

[R/SGT]

You are right and hopefully they did sort it out.

But personally I would be a bit more inclined to take a closer look at the Russian ship since the Old Soviet Union was never to worried about environmental problems and the New Russian Government is rather cash strapped.

The US is damm careful about their ships since they have environmental activists examining them through microscopes.

Not that I paticulary like the americans any more than the russians, but rather safe than sorry, especially when nuclear is involved.

 

[Alan]

The russian navy doesnt exactly have the best track record when it comes to safety.

Hopefull they sort it out though, would be interesting to visit it

Agreed. Russian navy has a terrible track record in the safety department.

Interesting that they have a nuke powered cruiser. I wonder if the U.S have any nuke powered ships besides aircraft carriers. Russians have a few ice breakers as well IIRC