BUILDING CAPACITY | TRANSPORT
already a leader in nuclear transport but by coming together to create NTS we’re now greater than the sum of our parts.”
As part of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
(NDA), NTS provides the transport solutions needed to support the NDA’s mission to clean-up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites in what is the largest environmental restoration programme in Europe. Its work includes transporting spent fuel from UK power stations to Sellafield, the return of reprocessing products to customers overseas, and packaging and licensing solutions to the NDA group. It also has responsibility for developing a strategic overview of all nuclear movements across NDA’s 17 sites with a view to making transport operations more efficient and sustainable.
Moving more As well as safely transporting materials to, from and between NDA sites, NTS has increasingly found a market for its specialist nuclear transport capabilities amongst a range of international customers. In recent years it has provided complex end-to-end
transport solutions for materials including plutonium, highly-enriched uranium, MOX fuel, high-level waste and spent fuel to a number of customers around the world. And, through Direct Rail Services, it has expanded its offering to customers outside the nuclear sector. NTS now operates a number of intermodal rail freight services in consumer goods and general freight markets. Despite building a reputation over 50 years for safe, secure and reliable nuclear transport operations, Seth is keen to point out that NTS is about more than ships and trains. “We’re incredibly proud of our record for safe and
secure transport operations, but arguably our greatest assets aren’t necessarily our specialist ships or fleet of locomotives, it’s our people and the knowledge and expertise they have,” says Seth, adding: “We’re problem solvers, and increasingly we’re using our know-how to advise and support customers around the world on their own transport and logistics challenges. Whether that’s supporting the implementation of new nuclear technology, dealing with difficult materials, or supporting threat reduction activities, we’re able to provide standalone or end-to-end transport and logistics solutions, transport package design and licencing, regulatory advice, and much more.”
This approach has seen NTS expand its offering to include transport and logistics solutions for front-end materials as well as it’s more traditional work transporting back-end materials including waste and spent fuel. As Seth points out, a recent NTS shipment of fresh fuel to one European country represented a third of that nation’s energy supply. “Our focus will always be on supporting nuclear clean-up in the UK and serving our longstanding customers like the Japanese utility companies” he continues. “But, as the nuclear market grows, and the need for reliable transport and logistics solutions increases, we will use our skills and expertise to expand our work with overseas governments and customers.” Overall, Seth is upbeat about NTS’s growth ambitions: “Delivering for customers outside of our core mission ensures our capabilities and assets are enhanced and generates additional revenue to support the long-term mission of our owner, the NDA.” But he’s also passionate about the wider benefits of what
NTS does, adding: “Commercial success and delivering our clean-up mission are not mutually exclusive.” “We’re proud of how we use our expertise to make the world safer and more sustainable. Whether that’s by supporting the clean-up of the UK’s nuclear legacy, using our high security shipping capabilities to support global security goals, or providing low-carbon rail freight solutions that takes more lorries off our roads.” With thousands of consignments of radioactive
materials transported by rail, road, sea or air each day for many decades, the companies that make up NTS have travelled millions of miles, moving thousands of flasks of material while maintaining a flawless nuclear safety and security record. According to Seth, that means NTS has a responsibility
to use its experience to advance the quality, technology and expertise of nuclear transport for the benefit of the UK and global nuclear community. It already works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) and other international partners to further this aim. As Seth explains: “This is something we’re passionate about. As an industry we have a duty to be excellent at what we do – so if NTS can help others increase the capacity for safe, secure and sustainable nuclear transport, then we will.” ■
www.neimagazine.com | Patram Special Edition | June 2023 | 27
Above: Today NTS is about more than ships and trains.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
