Safety and security
Providing world-leading nuclear shipping capabilities
For decades our unique nuclear shipping capabilities have helped customers around the world solve their own complex nuclear transport challenges.
Independent oversight
PNTL vessels can only put to sea with permission from independent authorities on nuclear transport safety and security.
Independent oversight
Security
PNTL’s nuclear security record is also flawless and PNTL complies with all security requirements recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Security
Packages
The special packages in which PNTL transports nuclear material are called “flasks” or “casks”. They are typically made from 25 cm thick forged steel and weigh around 100 tonnes. They can hold up to five tonnes of nuclear material.
Packages
Regulations
All PNTL voyages are conducted in full compliance with international laws and the ships carry all the necessary certificates and documentation to demonstrate their compliance with international regulations.
Regulations
Contingency Procedures
The PNTL Safety In Depth system provides much greater protection than typically exists for much more common shipments of hazardous cargo, such as chemicals, oil and liquid gases.
Contingency Procedures
Safety in depth
The full ‘Safety in Depth’ system encompasses the material, canisters, assemblies, special packages called casks or flasks and the protection provided by the reinforced double hulls of the PNTL fleet.
Safety in depth Radiation
All PNTL voyages are conducted in full compliance with international laws and the ships carry all the necessary certificates and documentation to demonstrate their compliance with international regulations.
Radiation
Operating PNTL
NTS operates Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), the world’s most experienced shipper of nuclear materials.
PNTL is part-owned by NTS, the French company Orano, and a consortium of Japanese utility companies. Established in 1975, it continues to undertake shipments of nuclear cargoes between Europe and Japan.
We use our nuclear shipping expertise to support a range of customers including Japanese utility companies, the US government, and EDF Energy.
Case studies
Using our unique high-security transport expertise to make the world safer
NTS is the only organisation in the world that offers a high-security “Category 1” nuclear shipping capability.
Safely delivering MOX fuel to Japan
We continue to use our shipping expertise to deliver MOX Fuel to electric power companies in Japan.
Transferring plutonium from Dounreay
In 2019 we used our rail, shipping and technical capabilities to complete a programme of complex, high-security transport operations to transfer civil separated plutonium held at Dounreay, to Sellafield.
Shipment of high-level waste from the UK to Germany
Our expertise in shipping waste resulting from reprocessing was demonstrated when we completed the first of three shipments of high level waste to Germany at the end of 2020.