Transport of natural UF6 in a challenging environment

At the entrance of the nuclear fuel cycle, the front-end material transportation takes a major and specific place. After years of stability the landscape of front-end industry is going toward significant changes regarding capacity, implementation of new technologies, imbalance of conversion capacity between geographical areas with increasing volumes of natural UF6 to transport and transport issues such as new regulations and denial of shipments by liners and ports. Facing this evolution the front end-industry is re-organizing its environment to increase robustness of the logistical chain: ß by being active in industrial organizations such as WNTI and WNA to share technical views and develop licensed standard transport equipment usable worldwide ß by developing other safe and reliable comprehensive logistics solutions as an alternative to conventional transport means. Our paper will describe the solutions under review to meet nuclear fuel cycle companies expectations: · qualification of several robust logistics systems ß chartered vessels for maritime transport of UF6 ß specific 20’ flat racks for safer handling of 48Y cylinders with future thermal protections,