Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL) is delighted to announce the order of two new purpose built ships for transporting radioactive materials.

Japanese shipbuilders Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, who are currently building the Pacific Heron at Tamano shipyard, has clinched the contract to design and build two further INF 3 ships which are scheduled to be in service by late 2010.

John Clarke, Managing Director of International Nuclear Services said: “We are delighted that our long-standing Japanese customers have given us the go-ahead to order an additional two ships, and are very grateful for their continued confidence in us to safely and successfully run the PNTL fleet.

“The Pacific Heron, and the two additional vessels, will form part of an ongoing commitment to provide a dedicated specialist nuclear transport operation. The PNTL fleet has an exemplary record with over five million miles travelled without any incident resulting in the release of radioactivity. The new ships will enhance and extend our capability even further.”

The commissioning of the Pacific Heron and the additional vessels are part of an ongoing review of options for the PNTL fleet and will ensure that suitable vessels are available to carry out any future transports of nuclear material between Europe and Japan.

Mitsui issued a statement saying: “We are proud that we have been selected to build two new vessels for PNTL, the world’s most experienced shipper of nuclear cargoes who have a thirty-year record of reliability and a special focus on safety.”

The two additional vessels will be a development of the design of the current PNTL ships, that provide a safe and reliable service with the cargo compartments protected by a double hull configuration together with back-up availability of all essential systems.

For more information contact:

Sellafield Communications

Steve Barnes
+44 (0)1925 833249

Ali McKibbin
+44 (0) 19467 85839

Ben Todd
+44 (0) 1925 834431

About PNTL

Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited’s ships are dedicated to the transportation of nuclear material that is classified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) of the United Nations at its highest level of INF 3 class. The INF Code regulates shipments by sea of packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes.

PNTL has successfully completed over 170 shipments in the last 30 years. In each case, the nuclear material is shipped in specially designed packages known as casks or flasks. The ships have safely covered more than 5 million miles and there has never been a single incident resulting in the release of radioactivity. Over 2,000 casks of nuclear material have been safely transported by PNTL.

PNTL operates as a subsidiary company of International Nuclear Services Ltd. PNTL is owned by International Nuclear Services Ltd, Areva and a number of Japanese companies.

About International Nuclear Services Ltd and Sellafield Ltd

International Nuclear Services Ltd manages the contracts and logistics for nuclear fuel recycling products and services for UK and overseas customers. It is 51 per cent owned by Sellafield Ltd and 49 per cent owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Sellafield Ltd is a management and operations contractor delivering accelerated clean-up programmes safely and cost-effectively to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Sellafield is contracted to procure, manage and operate the PNTL fleet on behalf of PNTL.

For more information:
www.sellafieldsites.com
www.pntl.co.uk
www.innuserv.com