Nuclear Waste Transport Call for Review

This news published by the Celtic League:

Nuclear Waste Transport Call for Review

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League has written to both the IMO and IAEA urging that action is taken to ensure vessels which undertake the transportation of nuclear waste are more safety resilient.

The issue was an agenda item at the recent AGM in Dublin with delegations from several countries extremely critical of lax safety standards which culminated in a fire on board a nuclear waster transport from Dounreay to Belgium .

Nuclear waste transport traffic by sea frequently traverses the Irish and North Seas .

A resolution calling for International action to enhance safety was adopted (see below):

The Secretary-General
Mr. Koji Sekimizu
International Maritime Organisation
4 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7SR

30th April 2015

Dear Sir,

You will recall I communicated with you in November 2014 concerning the incident involving an on board fire on the nuclear waste transport vessel MV Parida.

The matter was an item for discussion when delegates from the six Celtic countries met for their AGM in Dublin on the 10th – 12th April 2015.

Delegates were concerned about the potential for long lasting environmental damage caused by the transportation of hazardous material of this type in vessels which are not purpose built for the role.

The following resolution (see below) was adopted unanimously with delegates from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man speaking forcefully about their concerns;

“This AGM:

Expresses its concern at the incident in 2014 when the nuclear waste transport ship MV Parida was disabled after suffering an on-board fire off N.E. Scotland.

Calls on the IAEA and the IMO to review the regulation in relation to all vessels licensed to carry hazardous nuclear waste.

Urges both bodies to urge member States involved in the carriage of hazardous nuclear waste to move swiftly to allow the licensing of purpose built vessels only which have on board systems that include back-up resilience.”

I do hope that both IAEA and the IMO will give this matter further consideration.

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information

Related links:

BBC News
YouTube

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

30/04/15

(Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.)

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