Still smarting from the negative publicity surrounding the return shipment of rejected plutonium fuel (MOX) from Japan to Sellafield last month, BNFL is planning to ship plutonium fuel to Europe with reduced levels of safety and security for the dangerous cargo.
In a press statement yesterday, BNFL announced that the Port of Workington will be used over the coming weeks for trial runs with their ship Atlantic Osprey prior to shipping the Sellafield MOX Plant’s first small order to Swiss customer NOK for use in the Beznau power station. Selected for its roll-on roll-off facilities, the port of Workington itself has reduced security systems to those used at BNFL’s dedicated marine terminal at Ramsden Dock, Barrow.
A CORE spokesperson said “The protection given to the recent Japanese shipment is being abandoned by BNFL for Workington and Europe – despite the similarity of cargo and the increasing terrorist tension worldwide – in the hope that they can sneak the shipments out of the port with minimal security costs. This is dangerously inconsistent and exactly what we expect from a bankrupt company pursuing its loss-making MOX venture “.
The Atlantic Osprey, bought second-hand by BNFL in 2001 from the German shipping firm Adler & Sohne, has few of the safety/security features attributed to BNFL’s MOX carriers Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal. She has no double hull and must rely on a single engine. No naval canon or other armament has been added and unlike the Pacific ships the Atlantic Osprey will travel unescorted around the British coast to Europe with the plutonium fuel encased in a relatively lightweight transport package. The onward journey to Switzerland by road will be subjected to all the normal road transport hazards.
Since her purchase by BNFL, the Atlantic Osprey has been fitted with additional crew accommodation. Leaving the Manchester ship canal for sea trials in March this year, she suffered a disabling engine room fire which required Fire Brigade assistance. In 2001 and still under her original name mv Arneb, a number of deficiencies which included fire safety measures came to light in a Port State Control inspection at Hull. Following a further as yet unconfirmed incident in May this year, Atlantic Osprey has been berthed in Birkenhead Docks.