Published at 16:00, Wednesday, 21 May 2008

THE first of a number of shipments of Sellafield plutonium sailed from the Port of Workington last weekend on board the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s ship Atlantic Osprey.

The secretive night shipment, already delayed by two months because its original departure date was leaked in advance to the press, was accompanied by what one local resident described as ‘over the top, wall-to-wall security’ which sealed off the docks.

Cumbrians Opposed to Radioactive Environment’s Martin Forwood said: “In its powder form this plutonium is prime terrorist material. Its shipment to France is highly irresponsible at this time of heightened terrorist activity around the world and its transport endangers all communities along the sea route.

“The Atlantic Osprey, a converted roll on roll off car ferry which lacks many of the security features deemed necessary on other plutonium ships, will arrive in Cherbourg early this week when it is expected that the nuclear industry will have already secured a legal injunction preventing groups such as Greenpeace France from taking action against the shipment either on its arrival or its subsequent transport through France. This injunction, together with the fully armed security crew on board and the police saturation at Workington gives a clear indication of the unsavoury and dangerous nature of this plutonium trade and highlights the real safety fears of Government and industry.”

Mr Forwood claimed the shipments of plutonium to Europe stems from the inability of the Sellafield Mox Plant (SMP) to produce Mox fuel for its overseas customers. As a result of the failure, a number of Mox fuel orders have had to be sub-contracted for manufacture in France and Belgium and the plutonium they used now has to be replenished from Sellafield stocks.

Core claimed: “Given the number of orders SMP has had to sub-contract, well over one tonne of plutonium will have to be repaid -all to be exported through Workington which now assumes the mantle of the UK's principal Plutonium Port”.

Mr Forwood added: “No more than 10kg of the material in the wrong hands is sufficient to make an effective nuclear device.”

But Sellafield spokesman, Ben Todd, said: “Throughout the day all areas normally accessible to the general public remained so, and the transport was carefully co-ordinated between Cumbria Constabulary, Civil Nuclear Constabulary and ourselves to ensure only the least possible disruption was caused.”

Sellafield Ltd stated also: “International Nuclear Services can confirm that at approximately 2300hrs on Saturday, a consignment of plutonium oxide departed Sellafield for delivery to mainland Europe. The material was delivered by high security vehicles to the port of Workington and is currently being transported by sea on the MV Atlantic Osprey.

“Throughout the UK road journey and while on board the Atlantic Osprey, the material is accompanied by a security escort of officers from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.”

Alastair Brown, operations director for INS, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s nuclear fuel and transport business said: “The shipment of this material is necessary to fulfil Sellafield Ltd’s commercial obligations and at all times the safety and security of the public, our crew, the vessel and its cargo takes priority. “All aspects of safety are ensured by the very robust packages that contain the material, which are designed and tested to international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Authority.

“Further protection is provided by the Atlantic Osprey, which has a range of extra safety features over and above a normal cargo ship, including an additional watertight bulkhead, cargo fire protection and back up electrical supplies. It is also approved by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation to carry such nuclear materials.

“Security for the cargo is provided by the high security vehicles, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary escort and additional security measures on the Atlantic Osprey. Security measures for this journey have been approved by the UK Government’s independent Office for Civil Nuclear Security.”

INS has more than 40 years experience of transporting radioactive cargoes including spent nuclear fuel, high level waste, plutonium and nuclear fuels without any incident resulting in the release of radioactive material.

The shipment arrived safely in France, on Tuesday, according to Sellafield.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk