The UK’s programme to repatriate overseas-owned highly active waste continues to make excellent progress. Five shipments to Japan have now been safely and successfully completed and another one is due to depart in the coming weeks.

In line with normal practice information relating to this upcoming sixth shipment to Japan will be released as follows:

– The name of the ship to be used will be released a few days before departure from the UK

– The name of the UK port will be released on the day of loading the ship in the UK port

– The date of departure and the approximate arrival timing in Japan will be released just after departure from the UK

– The transport route will be released several weeks after the departure from the UK

– A notification of the transport’s completion will be made after the cargo’s arrival at its final destination in Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited’s facility

The highly active waste will be transported in extremely robust flasks, with substantial additional protection provided by the state-of-the-art purpose built nuclear cargo vessel that will carry them.

As with the five transports that have already taken place from the UK to Japan – and the previous 12 similar transports from France to Japan – the forthcoming shipment will comply with national and international regulations and guidelines.

Pictured is the laden TN28VT flask at Sellafield awaiting shipment to Japan