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How do you improve on excellence? This was the question facing PNTL and International Nuclear Services as they began to contemplate a new ship design to replace the first generation of nuclear carriers that had safely transported spent fuel, vitrified waste, mixed oxide fuel and plutonium across the world since 1979.
When the Pacific Heron left Tamano, Japan on her maiden voyage in April 2008 the answer was revealed. A new ship with state of the art navigation systems, enhanced safety features and improved performance.
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Pacific Heron
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Constructed by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the Pacific Heron is the first of three new INF 3 purpose-built PNTL ships that will transport nuclear materials between Europe and Japan.
Based on consultation with Lloyds of London, the Salvage Association and leading salvage companies, the five original ships were built with cargo compartments protected by a double hull configuration and duplication and separation of all essential systems. The philosophy was that if any important system failed during a voyage, there would always be a back-up ready to be brought into operation.
This ‘safety first’ approach was so successful that in 1993 it became the basis of the International Maritime Organization’s INF Code for shipping nuclear material, which became mandatory in January 2001.
Having stood the test of time, these ships were the natural starting point for PNTL’s new ship design. At the same time, PNTL wanted to limit its carbon emissions and improve management of onboard ship wastes. Sea staff were involved in the design process from the beginning to ensure that lessons were learnt from the previous ships.
INS Project Manager Pauline Woods said: “We recognized that we needed to maintain all the fundamental safety features of the previous design while trying to improve on them where we could. By applying all the accumulated knowledge from hundreds of voyages, together with technological improvements and modern automation, we were able to identify systems that could be made even more reliable.”
With their dimensions dictated by the relatively small volumes of cargo that need to be moved and the size and depth of reactor ports in Japan, the new ships are only marginally wider than their predecessors and are the same length. They differ in appearance mainly as a result of the enlarged accommodation and bridge areas and the reduced number of cargo holds (from five to four) that can house a total of twenty casks.
Since the Pacific Heron is heavier than her first generation sister ships, she needs more power. But the 2700 kw MAN diesel engines burn cleaner and more efficiently than their predecessors. To avoid oil pollution in the event of a collision or grounding, fuel tanks are located away from the outer shell, protected by two vertical bulkheads on the sides and by a double bottom underneath.
The engine room is now divided into two working spaces by a longitudinal bulkhead that separates the engines. Each space contains an auxiliary diesel generator.
A water mist firefighting system replaces one based on carbon dioxide, extinguishing fire by displacing oxygen while also cooling the affected area.
The wheelhouse is equipped with a fully integrated bridge system providing state of the art communications and navigation systems including an electronic chart system. Traditional paper charts are retained as a back up.
The crew also receives more modern accommodation, including greater cabin space, satellite TV and LAN connections for internet access and e-mail.
Director and General Manager of PNTL Alastair Brown is pleased with the finished product: “The team that created this new ship design did a fantastic job. The Pacific Heron sets new standards for maritime safety, reliability and environmental performance. With the addition of two more vessels PNTL will be in great shape to safely deliver nuclear materials across the globe over the next twenty-five years.”
As the Pacific Heron arrived in Barrow for the first time in June 2008, under the command of Captain Jack Miller, PNTL’s senior master said: “She handles well and it is clear that all the systems on board have been well thought through. It is wonderful to see how the ship design has evolved. Yet again, PNTL has gone the extra mile.”
August 2008
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