Low-level radiation leak from Adelaide-built air warfare destroyer Hobart

LOW-LEVEL radiation has leaked from the hi-tech radar of the first air warfare destroyer being built in Adelaide in a $9 billion program.

• ASC to axe jobs as destroyer project winds down
• First look aboard Adelaide-built air warfare destroyer
• Air warfare destroyer prepares for sea trials

LOW-LEVEL radiation has leaked from the hi-tech radar of the first air warfare destroyer built in Adelaide in a $9 billion program.

No people at shipbuilder ASC’s Osborne yard were exposed to the radiation from the state-of-the-art phased array radar, which can detect enemy aircraft and missiles up to 150km away.

The Advertiser has been told the incident on the Hobart, which was detected last Friday, involved the ship’s radar scanning in the incorrect direction.

In a statement, the AWD Alliance — which involves ASC, Raytheon Australia and the Defence Department — confirmed a safety incident.

“AWD Alliance can confirm a safety report was raised concerning potential low-level radio frequency energy exposure in the ASC South shipyard,” the statement says.

The Hobart’s radar equipment can detect an enemy from 150km. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“The report was raised on Friday, 26 August, 2016, following electronic signal broadcasting validation and testing from Ship 1 (Hobart) upper deck equipment.”

The statement says a survey conducted on Tuesday night “confirmed that there has been no exposure to any shipyard personnel”.

Hobart was launched in May last year and is undergoing tests before delivery to the Navy in the middle of next year.

University of Adelaide defence and security director Dr Michael Webb said radiation from radars of this type was unlikely to be dangerous in an incident of this kind.

This was because it was non-ionising — meaning it does not break chemical bonds — and likely was of a low frequency, slightly above wi-fi.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute defence and strategy program director Dr Andrew Davies said the incident did not appear too serious and likely involved a breach of testing protocols.

A spokesman for Comcare said the federal workplace safety agency was aware of the incident and was monitoring the situation with ASC to ensure occupational health and safety was maintained.