New PNTL ship takes to the water

Monday, 18 January 2010

Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd's (PNTL's) newest ship, the Pacific Egret, has been officially launched in Japan. The ship will form part of the company's fleet of vessels used to transport nuclear material between Europe and Japan.

 

The Pacific Egret is launched (Image: PNTL)

 

The new INF 3 class vessel is currently being built by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding at its Tamano shipyard, where the launch by sliding the vessel, stern first, down the slipway took place in front of a number of senior European and Japanese industry representatives.

 

After its launch, the Pacific Egret was towed to an outfitting berth where the vessel will be completed, with delivery to PNTL in Japan expected in June. The Pacific Egret is due to arrive at its home port of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK, later this year.

 

"The launch event is a significant milestone in the process of renewing the PNTL fleet for the 21st century," said Mark Jervis, managing director of parent company International Nuclear Services (INS).

 

He added, "The Pacific Egret forms part of an ongoing commitment to provide a dedicated specialist nuclear transport operation. The PNTL fleet has an exemplary record with over five million miles travelled without any incident resulting in the release of radioactivity. The new ship will enhance and extend our capability even further."

 

Like PNTL's other ships, the Pacific Egret is an INF 3 certified vessel under the INF Code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The INF Code regulates shipments by sea of used nuclear fuel, plutonium and high-level radioactive waste. PNTL's ships have cargo compartments protected by a reinforced double hull together with back-up availability of all essential systems to ensure the safety of shipments of radioactive materials.

 

PNTL's Pacific Heron was launched in May 2007. The $60 million vessel was also built by Mitsui at its Tamano shipyard. The 4500-tonne ship was delivered to PNTL in November 2007 and arrived at its home port in early 2008. PNTL’s other ships include the Pacific Sandpiper and the Pacific Pintail, which entered service in 1985 and 1987, respectively.

 

Used nuclear fuel from Japan has been shipped to Europe for processing and waste conditioning since 1969. Vitrified waste has been shipped back to Japan for storage since 1995, and mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel, containing materials recovered from used fuel, was first shipped to Japan in 1999.

 

PNTL, which is owned by INS, Areva and a number of Japanese companies, says it has successfully completed over 170 shipments in the past 30 years. The ships have covered over 8 million kilometres and over 2000 casks of nuclear materials have been transported. Its fleet is managed by James Fisher and Sons plc of the UK.

 

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News