IAEA Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Nuclear Incident: Information Sheet
Earthquake and tsunami
Following the earthquake and tsunami, IMO was in contact with the NAVAREA and METAREA coordinators in the immediate region – Japan – and the adjacent regions – Australia, the Russian Federation and the United States.
Subsequently, IMO has engaged with bodies such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)) and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) in order to assess what part we in the international maritime community can play in helping the people of Japan to recover from this catastrophe, within our spheres of competence and interest.
Further information covering all aspects of the response of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, as well as information regarding the radiation dose in Tokyo Bay and at sea in the region can be found on the following websites:
For updates, travellers visiting Japan by air are advised to consult a dedicated website established by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau:
Nuclear accident
IMO has been in close contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), WMO and other relevant UN bodies to monitor the situation.
Information for shipping
Navigational warnings, danger zones and meteorological warnings are disseminated via the existing Worldwide Navigational Warning Service via automated alerts (NAVTEX and SafetyNet systems), in the relevant NAVAREAS and METAREAS, which are the geographic areas in which Governments have designated responsibility for issuing navigation and weather warnings. There are 21 such areas covering the world’s oceans.
Vessels were advised from 15 March to keep a 30 km distance from the Fukushima plant.
METAREA XI warnings are issued by China and Japan and can also be downloaded here:
This page will be updated as further information becomes available
Further information and links:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Japan: Official contacts and updated official information
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Administration press releases
Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency
Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Measurement of radiation doses in the Ports around Tokyo Bay
2011 Tohoku district - off Pacific Ocean Earthquake