A cruise ship enters the port of Montreal, Tuesday September 18, 2012. (Maxime Landry/QMI Agency)

MONTREAL — A ship container with radioactive kitchenware was detected at the Port of Montreal in May and hasn't been removed yet.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issued an order to the cargo firm Hanjin Shipping Canada, demanding it remove the contaminated merchandise by Oct. 26.

"A shipment from the company triggered a Canada Border Services Agency radiation detection alarm upon its arrival at the Port of Montreal," the nuclear watchdog said in a statement.

"The order was issued on October 5 as a result of an inspection at the port that confirmed kitchenware carried within a shipping container was contaminated with Cobalt-60."

Hanjin Shipping Canada isn't licensed to carry nuclear materials, the watchdog said.

The order says the material would pose "an unreasonable risk to the environment and to the health and safety of persons should it remain in Canada for a prolonged period of time."

But the CNSC news release also says the cobalt isn't currently dangerous.