GNS is commissioned by the German nuclear power plant operators to safely return all residues from the reprocessing of German fuel elements abroad. The first of three shipments of vitrified HLW from the UK to Germany has now been completed successfully. Six casks of the type CASTOR® HAW28M, each containing 28 canisters of HLW in the form of vitrified residues, arrived at the Federal interim storage facility in Germany on 4 November 2020 after more than one week en route exactly within schedule.
A consignment of high-level waste (HLW) has been safely delivered to its destination in Germany.Six flasks, each containing 28 containers of HLW in the form of vitrified residues, arrived at the Federal interim storage facility in Germany on 4 November 2020.This was the first of three planned shipments of HLW from the UK to Germany.
As previously announced, the UK will be returning high level-waste (HLW) in the form of vitrified residues to Germany.The first of the three planned shipments is now safely under way. Six flasks, each containing 28 canisters of HLW, were transported from the Sellafield site, in West Cumbria, to Barrow-in-Furness by rail. The flasks were then loaded to the specialist nuclear transport vessel Pacific Grebe, operated by International Nuclear Services (INS).
Yesterday evening the "Pacific Grebe", a dedicated vessel for the transport of radioactive materials, left the English port of Barrow-in-Furness. On board are six casks containing radioactive waste from the reprocessing of German fuel elements in Sellafield, England. Previously, the casks of the type CASTOR® HAW28M had been transported by rail from the reprocessing plant in Sellafield to the port about 65 km away and loaded onto the ship there.
Over the coming years, the United Kingdom will be returning high-level waste (HLW) in the form of vitrified residues to Germany. There will be three shipments, for a total of 20 flasks containing 28 canisters each, to Federal storage facilities in Biblis, Brokdorf and Isar. The first shipment of six flasks to Biblis was postponed in spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In agreement with the relevant Competent Authorities, preparations are now under way to perform this shipment by the end of 2020.
The preparations for the repatriation transport of vitrified radioactive waste from the reprocessing plant in Sellafield/UK to the Federal interim storage facility in Biblis, which was suspended in spring due to the beginning COVID 19 situation, have been resumed. Today, the German Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) issued the amendment of the transport licence in accordance with § 4 AtG (German Atomic Energy Act) which was implemented as part of the postponement of the transport. After consultation between the Ministries of the Interior and the police authorities responsible for escorting the transport, the transport can thus be carried out this year.
Pacific Grebe has retained its classification as a specialist INF3 vessel following a recent inspection by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The INF Code was established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) of the United Nations and regulates shipments by sea of packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes. The Code defines classes of vessels based on the aggregate level of radioactivity that a ship is permitted to transport.
The repatriation transport of vitrified radioactive waste from the reprocessing plant in Sellafield/UK to the interim storage facility in Biblis, scheduled for this spring, is suspended. As the German police authorities responsible for escorting and executing the transport have stated, the police operation is currently not responsible in view of the current "corona spread" and therefore cannot be carried out in spring as planned.
Over the coming years the United Kingdom will be returning highly active waste (HAW) in the form of vitrified residues to Germany. There will be a total of three shipments to storage facilities in Biblis, Brokdorf and Isar. The first shipment, to Biblis, is scheduled for the first half of 2020.
In spring 2020, GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH plans on behalf of the German nuclear power plant operators the first of three obligatory return transports with radioactive residues from the reprocessing of German fuel elements at Sellafield in England. The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) today issued the required transport licence for the transport to the federally owned interim storage facility in Biblis in accordance with § 4 AtG (German Atomic Energy Act).