° UNIQUE DOCUMENT mt uw? ‘ _ SAC2O0COG Ce AAD DEI JOHN C, BUGHER, MD MERRIL EISHISUD CONTAMINATION OF THE FUXURYU MARU ANc ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS IN JAPAN: PRELIMINARY REPORT 408198 I have recorded some of the observations made during my visit to Japan to assist in the various problems arising out of the mishap to the Fukuryu Maru, I am sending this along to you at this time because you will no doubt want a prelininary repart prior to my return to the States in about 2 weeks, This nemorandum is intended to augment the report that Dr. Morton will submit to you. I have attempted to limit myself to factors other tnan those associated with tre clinical phases of the problem, with which Dr. Morton's group are concerned, et] S 2H IecInEr yo > > Tie mishap waich befell the Fukuryu Maru became mown to the Embassy ani the world on March 16 through reports in the Japanese press, This ywas two days aftor the 100-ton fishing vessel had returned to its home , CLASSIFICATION CHANGED TO: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DECLASSIFICATION . DETERMINATION [CIRCLE NUMBER(S)} 1. CLASSIFICATION RETAINED : yPort of Yaizu, The facts of the incident, as determined by the Japancse ,foreieon Office ané communicated (1) to tao Ambassador, arc as follows: (1) The course of the vessol from its departure on January 27 to its brn to Yaizu on arch 14 is plotted in Figure Fo, 1. At 0412 hours on Merehn 1 a streak of light reported by the crew is bclivved to identify th .¢ of detonation, The vessel's position was approximatcly 11° 53¢! nor: and 166° 34:! cast, This position is onlk- a fow nilos from the casternmo: nit of the Marshell Islanés dang.r arca in offect at that time, (2) Two blasts in succession were heard about 7 or 8 ninutes after e light had been seon. The crew is reportec to have become apyrchensive Reon. boszan at that time to haul in their fishing lines, an operation wnich MR potinucd until 1030 hours, at which time the vessel heeded north "to get nt of the arca™, (3) At about 0700 on March 1, ashes bogan to fall. turning the deck ite, Tho position of the vessel at this timo is given at 11° 5€ 2/4! prth and 166° 4231 oast, The ashes kept falling wmtil novn at voich tine e position of the yossol was ostimated at 12° 14' north and 166° 53! BEST COPY AVAILABLE Cy RESEARCH & APPL.” #