Context
The French Navy (= Marine nationale) is the second nuclear operator in France. For more than 45 years, it has used nuclear power to participate in a nuclear deterrence policy with both its naval air (Super Etendard and Rafale aircraft) and ocean components (nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines). Its four military ports, located at Brest, Toulon, Cherbourg and L’Ile-Longue, also host nuclear-powered ships in operation, construction or decommissioning, such as the “Charles de Gaulle” aircraft carrier and ballistic missile and nuclear attack submarines.
As nuclear operator, the French Navy has a duty to ensure the security and protection of personnel, neighboring populations and the environment as an ongoing basis. To monitor the impact of nuclear activities, prevent incidents and provide a quick and appropriate response to the crisis, Bertin Instruments has designed and deployed, with the support of partners, an environmental radiation monitoring system called 2SNM for the French naval bases.
