PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED LEAD

Gravatom Engineering Systems Limited (GESL) and MHF Logistical Solutions (UK) Limited (MHF-LS) have developed, tested, and implemented a safe, innovative packaging system for the transportation of radioactive lead. The packaging system includes three components: a PDSI 0149 package marketed in the United Kingdom by GESL; a customized twenty-foot ISO side-loading cargo container with a locking system capable of holding a 5 PDSI 0149 package; and an internal lift system for ease of lead removal from the package developed by MHF-LS. The system has been used during the past year to package radioactive lead from the Sellafield decommissioning project in the United Kingdom for transport to the United States and Sweden. The following paper provides information on the context for the development of this packaging system and a description of the technical details associated with the design and implementation of the system.