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James, We used to take the dewar in the cabin with us on the way to the ESRF, post-9/11). The only reason we started using TNT was that the ESRF pucks made it too heavy for hand luggage... According to the IATA dangerous goods regulations: "Insulated packagings containing refrigerated liquid nitrogen (dry shipper), fully absorbed in a porous material and intended for transport, at low temperature, of nondangerous products are not subject to these Regulations provided the design of the insulated packaging would not allow the build- up of pressure within the container and would not permit the release of any refrigerated liquid nitrogen irrespective of the orientation of the insulated packaging." Once you find someone who is aware of this, there are usually no problems. Finding someone like that can be a problem though. It's also a good idea to carry a copy of the DGR (http:// www.iata.org/NR/ContentConnector/CS2000/SiteInterface/sites/whatwedo/ dangerousgoods/file/Table2.3.AEnglish2005.pdf) which you can show to security people, as well the airline's approval. Although an approval is strickly speaking not required, I've found it helps a lot. A statement about the samples being harmless is also helpful, as well as carrying the dewar e.g. in a trolley bag instead of the shipping box. This way only the security people will ask questions... Esko P.S. We never had to buy a seat, and mostly we could even put the dewar upright on a free seat or something. You should be prepared to put it in the overhead locker though. Quoting james whisstock <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > *** For details on how to be removed from this list visit the *** > *** CCP4 home page http://www.ccp4.ac.uk *** > > > Dear Andrew > > Yes - we too have occasionally opened our dewars to find Mr Snowman had > paid a visit and that a couple (or worse) of canes are shot, presumably > because customs have had an extensive inspection. We use APS in the > states, and I'm pretty sure that the Dewars are opened most times they > go though US customs - one just hopes that they just take a peek and do > no more - it sounds like with your samples they really went to town > though. I reckon it was just bad luck, since I don't reckon they get > enough of these things to care about canes vs pucks, although I suppose > a stack of pucks would look like a large block of metal on X-ray? I > think that a padlock would probably provoke opening with a sledge hammer > > or worse, particularly if you are US bound, so I reckon your cable ties > are the way to go, since you will at least know if its been opened, and > they are easy to remove without too much violence. We always put in a > note begging them not to open the dewer since the samples are extremely > temperature sensitive - but, don't really know whether it works. > > Furthermore, I often wonder whether the "fragile, keep this way up" > merely acts as red rag to a bull for the DHL guys to drop-kick it onto > the plane while laughing wildly. I know some people who have put a tilt > > / temp monitor on the dewar - however, my feeling is that it would be > impossible to get recompense unless you have great lawyers and a lot of > time and in any case Customs bascially have a right to do whatever they > want. > > In pre 9-11 days one of my mates transported a particularly precious > dewar and samples with him personally - he was forced to buy a seat for > it at the US end (apparently the conversation was'nt great, and they > did'nt even let him have the dewars meal and drinks), and frankly I > think he would be Guantanamo bound or worse if he tried it now. Are > Eurostar Dewar friendly? > > Cheers > > James > > Leslie A. wrote: > > >*** For details on how to be removed from this list visit the *** > >*** CCP4 home page http://www.ccp4.ac.uk *** > > > > > > > >We recently sent two dewars of crystals by DHL to ESRF for data > >collection. On opening the dewars at the ESRF, it was obvious that the > >dewars (or at least one of them) had been opened during transit. The > >"groove" in the top to the dewar that accommodates the handle for the > >basket had been ignored when the top was replaced, and the top had > >clearly been forced back into the dewar, gouging out a new "groove". > > > >The result was a significant accumulation of ice on the pucks, which > >subsequently caused serious problems with the automatic sample > >changer, which got jammed by the ice. In addition, and most > >importantly, the diffraction from the crystals, which had been > >carefully screened prior to the trip, was so poor that no useful data > >could be collected. > > > >Has anyone else had a similar experience ? > > > >We used to secure the tops to the dewars with cable ties, but did not > >do so on this trip. Following this experience we are tempted to use a > >padlock, but this may provoke the use of greater force in opening the > >dewar. > > > >One worrying thought is that this is the first time that we have > >transported the crystals in pucks rather than in canes. Is it possible > >that the customs people are unaccustomed (excuse the pun) to seeing > >pucks rather than canes, and that is why they wanted to investigate ? > >Are customs officials the only people who would open a dewar in > >transit ? > > > >Is there any way that this can be avoided in the future ? > > > >Any information/thoughts are greatly welcome > > > > > >Matt Bowler and Andrew Leslie > > > > > > > >
