Delivering Consignment Involving Time Lapse Between Packing and Shipment

Sellafield Limited consigns radioactive material as part of its regular, daily business. Each year over 1,000 RAM packages are consigned from the Sellafield Site and around 10 of these represent significant overseas exports. One of these overseas exports took place in September 2012 when Sellafield Limited loaded and consigned 8 fresh mixed oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies which were safely and compliantly shipped and delivered to a Consignee in mainland Europe. The fuel assemblies had been packed into 2 transport flasks in 2009 and stored in the intervening period. The three year time lapse between packing and shipment brought about many bespoke challenges to the Sellafield Limited consigning team, particularly in respect of payload verification (sensitive to fuel ageing), package maintenance and cessation of plant operations. These challenges were successfully dealt with and the 2 flasks were appropriately consigned and safely delivered to the Consignee in line with all national and international requirements. This paper describes the preparatory work that was undertaken by Sellafield Limited in anticipation of consignment and how the shipment was safely delivered by working with partners and regulators.