This is part of a programme called Vitrified Residue Return (VRR), where the the UK sends highly active waste (HAW) back to its country of origin.
Sellafield work with Moor Row-based company International Nuclear Services (INS) to transport the waste.
This is the second of the two planned consignments for Switzerland.
Four flasks, each containing 28 containers of waste were transported from Sellafield to Barrow, where they were loaded onto transport vessel Oceanic Pintail. They are now en route to Cherbourg in France where they will be offloaded and transported by rail to Switzerland by French specialist company AREVA.
A spokesman for Sellafield said: “The VRR programme is a key component of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s strategy to repatriate highly active waste from the UK, fulfil overseas contracts and deliver UK Government policy.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here