Efforts in Training on Security during the Transport of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material – A Status Report

The international community, led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has developed a robust suite of requirement/recommendation/guidance documents on nuclear material and other radioactive material transport security, as well as training courses and accompanying training materials on this subject. The nuclear material security during transport training hinges, in part, on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. Both the nuclear material and the other radioactive material security during transport training depend, to a great extent, on a number of IAEA Nuclear Security Series recommendation and guidance documents on transport security as well as the Code of conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. In addition, the nuclear material security during transport training focuses, in part, on requirements from the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its amendment. Beginning in 2008, the IAEA, working with key international agencies and experts, began developing training materials and convening, with the cooperation of various Member State agencies, training courses based on these documents. The IAEA’s training courses include: (a) Training for Security during the Transport of Radioactive Material, which focuses on all materials except nuclear materials; and (b) Training for Security during the Transport of Nuclear Material, which focuses only on security requirements for nuclear material. State and regional training courses on these subjects have been convened in many regions of the world. These security training courses can be adapted to meet the needs of the student audience, e.g. for: ? educating regulatory, governmental and industry personnel, and nuclear security students; ? training the trainers; and ? providing transport security awareness, and detailed insight and training on the design and implementation of transport security programs. The courses include table-top and in-facility workshops to enhance learning, which includes hands-on exercises on developing transport security plans, performing readiness reviews, and undertaking corrective actions prior to shipment. This paper provides an overview of the relevant Nuclear Security Series documents, the contents of the transport security training materials, a summary of the training that has been accomplished, and experience gained through the training that has been accomplished to date.