Hong Kong's Overseas Orient Container Lines (OOCL) said it is scanning all vessels it owns or charters for radiation before they depart from the Japanese Kanto ports of Tokyo and Yokohama.

The scanning, which is being done by licensed personnel, covers crew, superstructures, open decks and selected containers to mitigate the risk of radiation from outbound vessels.

When the scanning shows safe levels of radiation, a certificate is issued to indicate the safe status of the vessel and it is cleared for departure.

OOCL said it has not received notification from Japan or any importing countries demanding scanning for radioactive materials on containers and shipments, but is undertaking the scanning as a precautionary measure.