Last updated at 09:25, Thursday, 22 April 2010

NUCLEAR ship left Barrow on January 22 for Japan on an historic voyage which might hail a bright new era for Sellafield.

Nuclear bosses, unions and community leaders are hoping the first ever shipment of highly radioactive waste overseas from Sellafield will eventually lead to new business and more employment security.

They also say that the “historic milestone” finally nails claims that Sellafield was becoming the world’s nuclear dustbin and should not be allowed to carry on producing more waste from reprocessing.

Relationships with Japan who refused to do any more business with BNFL and Sellafield after the Mox fuel scandal several years are now said to have been healed with much trust and confidence restored.

The Pacific Sandpiper powered out of Barrow under tight security – but unlike for the Mox fuel shipments the vessel is not armed.

Double hull security barriers and safety features are considered robust enough to protect the “hot” cargo from the potential risk of terrorism attack or hi-jack through territorial waters.

The Sandpiper is carrying cannisters of “hot” waste which have been converted into glass blocks in the Sellafield vitrification plant.

The waste is from Japanese spent fuel reprocessed at Sellafield and is finally being sent back under inter-government deals struck in 1976.

It has taken more than 30 years but the success of the vitrification process at Sellafield, enabling the liquid waste to be converted into glass blocks, has made possible what is said to be a huge milestone in the history of both Sellafield and the nuclear industry.

It may also lead to a breakthrough in the fight for new reprocessing business on the site.

Some 1,850 cannisters of vitrified waste will be returned overseas over the next 10 years to Japan, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

On why the returns had taken so long, one of Sellafield’s American executives, Mike Johnson, said: “We are dealing with high active waste which takes a great deal of care so we’ve taken our time to make sure all the waste issues were handled properly. Also our overseas customers have made a number of requests for modifications about the way we sent the waste back so it is done to their specifications.”

Japan along with the European customers are footing the costly bill for the return shipments.

Says Mr Johnson: “We are demonstrating we are keeping a promise we made both to West Cumbria and the UK that we would return this waste back to the owners of the spent fuel Sellafield reprocessed for them. It is also a demonstration of the ability of our workforce to do the things they said they’d do and do them safely and efficiently.”

Asked whether it strengthened the case for future reprocessing Mr Johnson said: “That would be a government decision, but certainly the demonstration of the ability of our workforce to deliver some of these challenging assignments must contribute positively to the conversations about new nuclear fuel reprocessing.

“NMP (Sellafield’s new parent body organisation) would probably support the case. We would also contribute our record of safe operation.

“We have a workforce that has demonstrated expertise.That expertise should be available to be used as best it can be.”

On the Japanese relationship, Mike Johnson pointed out: “The quality and attributes of this shipment have been vetted both by ourselves, our customers, and the regulators.

International Nuclear Transport representative Rupert Wilcox-Baker said: “Sellafield in raising the quality of its product and workforce has worked extraordinarily hard to improve that relationship with Japan.

“This shipment is a very strong signal of confidence.”

Egremont man Jock Brocklebank, who heads up the vitrified waste returns operation at Sellafield where he has worked since leaving school, said: “Sellafield Ltd did its own inspections on these cannisters. They passed.

“Then we invited the Japanese customers across to witness us carrying out further tests and they passed again.

“All this built a good relationship. We know and the Japanese side know we have met the specifications, the trust is back.

“To reach this milestone is a very proud moment both for me personally, the company and the people involved, the majority of them local I also think people generally will see those claims of the nuclear dustbin being in West Cumbria are no more, we have dispelled the myth.

“It should give added confidence to our area, we have the skills to take on whatever comes our way in the nuclear business.”

NDA executive John Clarke, former Sellafield head of safer, said: “I was in Japan last week with industry and government representatives and it is clear that relationships are very positive and restored but you are only as good as your last action.”

The first shipment is due to reach Japan during March.

First published at 12:56, Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk