Daily Tribune
Container Ship SINAR SANUR
Marine Traffic
Maritime and government authorities are on high alert ahead of the arrival of a vessel carrying cargoes contaminated with Cesium-137 (Cs-137) — a radioactive substance that can cause cancer and other serious health risks upon exposure.
According to a report from Indonesia’s Antara News Agency, the country’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), working with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, intercepted nine containers of zinc concentrate powder found to contain elevated radiation levels upon arrival at Tanjung Priok Port.
“Radiation Portal Monitors detected levels exceeding the threshold, triggering alarms on five of the nine containers,” the report said, adding that the cargo originated from the Philippines. Bapeten officials confirmed the presence of Cs-137 nuclides within the containers, with radiation doses measured at up to 210 times higher than background levels.
The contaminated shipment has since caused significant disruption in Indonesia’s export industry, after U.S.-bound shrimp and cloves shipments were exposed to the irradiated zinc cargo.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed detecting traces of Cs-137 in frozen shrimp and spice samples from Indonesian firms PT Bahari Makmur Sejati and PT Natural Java Spice, prompting an import alert and consumer advisory.
“Products from PT. Bahari Makmur Sejati and PT. Natural Java Spice will not be permitted to enter the U.S. market until these firms provide the FDA with information to adequately demonstrate that they have resolved the conditions that gave rise to the appearance of the violations,” the FDA stated.
Indonesian authorities have since ordered the repatriation of the containers to their origin — the Port of Manila.
“Bapeten recommends that all contaminated containers be returned to their country of origin, the Philippines, due to confirmed Cs-137 contamination,” said Ishak, Bapeten’s spokesperson.
A source told the Daily Tribune that the shipment’s return was initially scheduled for October 13 but postponed to October 27, aboard the MV Sinar Sanur container vessel.
“May nauna nang containers sa Indonesia pero blocked entry di pa nakabalik sa Pinas. May additional 10 containers na nandito pa sa Pilipinas, same group nung nauna sa Indonesia na cleared for radioactivity. Yung galing Indonesia, di pa na-processed,” a Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) insider said.
The cargo was traced to Zannwann International Trading Corp., a Chinese-owned trading firm based in Meycauayan, Bulacan, prompting an emergency meeting among key government agencies.
Officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs, Department of Health–Bureau of Quarantine, and DOST–Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) convened to assess the situation.
PNRI confirmed the presence of Cs-137 contamination outside two warehouses owned by Xin Recycling, a sister company of Zannwann.
“Inspection teams were not permitted to enter the warehouses where several bags of zinc dust are stored,” PNRI said. “A facility representative admitted sourcing the zinc dust from steel companies nationwide, namely Steel Asia and CAPASCO, exporting it at least twice a year.”
Steel Asia Manufacturing Corporation official Steve Araneta said the company will investigate the issue.
Cesium-137 is commonly used in small quantities for calibration of radiation detection instruments such as Geiger counters, but in larger amounts, it is used in medical radiation therapy and industrial gauges.
Exposure to high doses of Cs-137 can cause burns, radiation sickness, and even death, while prolonged exposure increases the risk of cancer due to high-energy gamma radiation.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation amid growing environmental and trade implications linked to the radioactive cargo.
