A new container designed to transport spent nuclear fuel has successfully been loaded onto a ship clearing the way for the flask to be used by a specialist fleet.
Nuclear Transport Solutions has developed the flask known as the TN Eagle which is said to be the largest ever transported by the company and will be used
The Pacific Grebe was the first in the NTS fleet to be adapted to accommodate the load by the organisation’s transport experts and specialist engineers.
An adapter plate was produced to ensure the cargo would securely fit within the ship’s hold.
Following initial trials at Barrow Marine Terminal, a full-scale test fitting took place in Cherbourg, France, using the specialist vessel operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), NTS’s specialist shipping division.
Weighing 150 tonnes, the flask was successfully placed in the ship’s various holds to check compatibility.
“This has been a fantastic collaborative effort between NTS and PNTL,” Conner Love, NTS director of shipping, said. “It demonstrates the world-leading expertise we possess in nuclear shipping and engineering.”
He added: “We are proud to have worked on the successful completion of this project, but this is just the beginning as we embark on a series of vital spent fuel movements around the globe.”
A second ship, Pacific Egret, will be adapted in the near future to transport the new flask.
