Chinese vessel carrying radioactive material ordered to leave Hambantota port

A Chinese vessel which entered the Hambantota harbour has been ordered to leave the Port after it was detected that it was carrying radioactive material and had not declared the cargo.

M.V. BBC Naples sailing under the flag of "Antigua & Barbados" entered the port of Hambantota on April 20 at 9.00 pm, while en route from Rotterdam to China.

The ship had made an emergency call at the port for some urgent repairs, but the agents for the vessel in Sri Lanka, Ms. Barwil Meridian Navigation, had not declared to the port authorities that there was dangerous cargo on board prior to the vessel entering the port.

It was revealed that the vessel was carrying a cargo of Uranium Hexafluoride after Navy made its investigations

The Director-General of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council Anil Ranjith said they  instructed a Chinese vessel carrying radioactive materials to leave immediately.

The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council had thereafter taken measures to move out the vessel from the Inner Port to the Outer Port, where it is currently docked, he said.

The vessel has now been instructed to immediately depart from the Hambantota port.