Radioactive container in Genoa feared as ticking nuclear bomb

A HIGHLY radioactive container was discovered in the Italian Port of Genoa, raising fears it may be nuclear bomb ready to explode if opened, reports London's International Freighting Weekly.


"The container is very nearly glowing with Cobalt-60; its contents are unknown and there is no game plan for its disposal. I wouldn't go near it," said Joe Alioto, vice president of VeriTainer, a container scanner manufacturer of St Helena, California some 50 miles north of San Francisco.


The radioactive box has been in Voltri Terminal complex since July, but authorities were undecided of whether to open it by robot or remove it by barge.


It has since been isolated by other containers filled with stones and water. It is understood that further tests this week concluded that the box contained a small but powerful source of radiation.


Mr Alioto said it was likely that the container had been tampered with between Adjman in the UAE and Jeddah on the Red Sea.


The container is said to have come from Sun Metal Casting in Adjman in the UAE, and was supposed to be carrying 18 tonnes of copper for a customer north of Genoa.


It came through Jeddah and transshipped via Gioia Tauro to Genoa where it sat on the dock for days before a check found it to be highly radioactive.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)