ENDEAVOR Radioisotope Policy

Contact and Authorization

Contact the URI/GSO Radiation Safety Office by telephone or email

Initial contact regarding the use of radioactive materials on a cruise is usually made to the Science Officer or through early submission of a Precruise Questionnaire. Application to use radioactive materials on board the vessel must be made as far as possible in advance to facilitate shipments and paperwork and preclude any regulatory difficulties or delays. Application is addressed to:

University of Rhode Island
Radiation Safety Office
16 Reactor Road
Narragansett, RI 02882-1197

Principal Investigators who make application must have authorization to use the equivalent type and amount of isotope material at their home institution. This will be verified by telephone and written contact with the home institution's RSO. When all requirements have been satisfied, the RSO will issue a permit to the PI to possess and use the material on board the vessel. At that time shipment of material can be made to the URI/GSO Nuclear Science Center and the Science Officer will receive authorization to allow radioactive material on board the vessel.

The institution is very strict in the enforcement of the policies set out and any unauthorized attempt to load radioactive materials is absolutely prohibited.

Shipping and Disposal

Arrangements to remove radioactive waste and any unused radioactive material must be in place prior to the departure of the cruise as discharge of any radioactive product at sea is strictly prohibited and absolutely no material will be accepted for disposal at or by URI/GSO. The investigator must either arrange to return products to the home institution or to a licensed facility and shipment must be made or cleared by the URI RSO. All necessary papers must be filled out and all DOT and international regulations adhered to.

For cruises beginning and terminating at Narragansett the URI RSO will oversee arriving and outgoing shipments, document and review third party smear tests of the vessel. In the case of cruises beginning or ending at other than US ports, arrangements must be made between the Investigator's institution and URI for an RSO from a recognized nearby institution to undertake this responsibility.

In the event that the PI leaves the vessel prior to the ultimate destination of the radioactive material, the authority for oversight on the vessel will be undertaken by a member of the URI/GSO Technician staff only if arrangements have been made in advance. The PI must reassume responsibility for the ultimate disposal of the material when the vessel returns to the off loading port.

Laboratory Space for Radioisotope Use

All shipboard radioisotope use and storage, other than sealed sources mounted within instruments, must be inside the Radioisotope Van. Absolutely no radioactive material is permitted on board in locations other than inside this van. The Van is an 8' x 16' foot purpose built laboratory equipped with counters, cabinets, a 4' fume hood, liquid sintillation counter and pancake GM counter. The van is heated, air conditioned, provides fresh water and both 120VAC and 208VAC 3-phase electrical service.