1. There were insufficient radioactive waste treatment plants in Russia’s Far East, and it was reported in 1993 that untreated radioactive waste was being dumped into the Sea of Japan, causing great concern about environmental pollution. Under these circumstances, “Suzuran (Landysh)” was constructed in order to safely dispose of low-level liquid radioactive waste generated by the dismantlement of nuclear submarines. Suzuran is a floating treatment plant with a handling capacity of 7,000 m³/year and is one of the largest liquid radioactive waste treatment plants in the world.

2. Construction of the facility was completed in April 1998. After its trial runs and adjustments in Russia, it began treatment operations of liquid radioactive waste in the region. It has been moored opposite Vladivostok’s shores, at the Zvezda Shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen Bay.

“Suzuran (Landysh)”

3.  On November 22, 2001, the handover ceremony of Suzuran was held at the Zvezda Shipyard. The attendees at the ceremony were the Japanese Consul General of Vladivostok and officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the Russian side were officials from the Ministry for Atomic Energy, Ministry of Economy, Federal Inspectorate for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (Gosatomnadzor), Primorsky District Administration as well as interested parties of the Pacific Fleet, Zvezda Shipyard and those who were involved in the construction of the treatment plant. The event was widely covered by the media in the both countries.

Handover ceremony