2023 Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 37-44
This paper summarizes the general situation of marine monitoring conducted after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, the experience of development and operation of USVs, and the possibility of applying unmanned vessels as a tool for nuclear disaster prevention in the future. Even now, more than 10 years after the accident, large-scale marine monitoring is still being conducted in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In addition, it is an important policy issue to develop monitoring tools in preparation for post-accident situations. Operational tests of three USVs have been continuously conducted for use in such environmental radiation monitoring. Development of these USVs is underway with a view to utilizing them for seawater sampling, direct measurement of the seafloor soil surface layer, and seafloor soil sampling, depending on their performance. It is necessary to promote the development of USVs for future nuclear power plant accidents.
