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Academics from Argentina and Chile visited England and France in late September at the invitation of industry managers, gaining a first hand understanding of developments in the nuclear power industry and witnessing the safety measures incorporated into PNTL’s purpose-built ships.
Veronica Neghme Echeverria, Rolando Aguilar Cardenas, Ernesto Pirillo and Dr. Nicolas Juan Lucas all have a special interest in nuclear energy and began their visit with discussions at the Barrow Marine Terminal and a tour of the Pacific Pintail hosted by Captain Aden Howlett.
PNTL shipments use three routes between Europe and Japan: through the Panama Canal, around Cape Horn and around the Cape of Good Hope. The visitors saw the double hulls, the two independent engines and the holds where specially engineered 100-tonne casks containing nuclear material are attached to the ship’s structure for voyages. Captain Howlett explained how the numerous safety systems on board, together with extensive duplication of equipment, make the PNTL ships among the safest on the seas.
The following day, the academics had discussions on the international regulatory regime that governs the shipments with senior officials from with the World Nuclear Transport Institute in London.
Meetings followed in Paris where Bertrand Barre, Scientific Advisor to the Chief Executive of Areva, led a discussion on global energy challenges. Topics covered included modern reactor designs, the closed nuclear fuel cycle, waste management and climate change. The group was joined by Mrs. Berta Picamal from FORATOM who provided information on the status of nuclear power in the European Union.
The final day of the visit was spent at the La Hague reprocessing plant in France where the group observed nuclear fuel cycle activities including the vitrification process which transforms high level radioactive waste from a liquid into a solid and passive structure. During the visit to the plants they also saw the strict safety standards and protective systems that ensure that nuclear operations are managed in a carefully controlled environment.
The schedule was packed with meetings, discussions and tours and all the visitors agreed that they had gained a valuable insight into the nuclear industry in Europe and the safety of the shipments that, from time to time, pass around Cape Horn.
October 2009
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