蘇格蘭昔得蘭政務委員會對於未來幾天其國內沿岸地區居民的安全感到十分憂心，因一艘裝載了一批高度放射性的核能燃料的貨輪，將橫渡英國與法國之間的水域。委員會對此舉表示不妥。一艘由英國核能集團所擁有的舊式平板貨船「大西洋魚鷹號」，將運送1.25公噸的混合氧化物燃料（MOX），從英國核燃料再處理廠運到瑞士電力傳輸公司NOK。
混合氧化物燃料是混和了鈾-鈽的核能發電燃料，這次的運量包含了約90公斤的高輻射性鈽原料。這些混合氧化物燃料，將先從英國坎布里亞區愛爾蘭海的薩拉費爾德，運到法國瑟堡，再由陸運抵達瑞士的Beznau電廠。
大西洋魚鷹號只有單一船體以及單一引擎，在整個航程中也沒有任何保護。相反的，當英國核電廠運送混合氧化物至日本或由日本輸出時，所使用的是特製的船隻，擁有雙引擎、雙層船體，並且由海軍護送，由兩艘船一起運送以互相幫助避免受到攻擊。
區域國際環境組織（KIMO）國際總裁議員尼可森（Angus Nicolson）表示：「為了此目的而安排的海運相關準備工作有許多缺點，可以說是一個二流的計畫。」他說：「現今我們已經開始使用特製的雙船體油輪運油，以保護海洋生物環境。相較之下，這次的運輸方式顯得非常不負責任。」
這次的航行將非常接近全世界人口最密集的區域，並且經過最繁忙的航線。因此，尼可森指出這艘船將承受更高的撞擊風險，以及遭受恐怖攻擊的機會。
區域國際環境組織對於目前缺乏核子物質海上災害緊急應變計畫提出警告，並且質疑用來運輸核能燃料的容器的安全性。區域國際環境組織認為核子原料的運輸應該遭到禁止，而且應該在產出時就安全的儲藏起來。尼可森代表區域國際環境組織秘書處發言說道，如果大西洋魚鷹號意外地在海岸地區被撞擊或遭受恐怖攻擊，將導致毀滅性的災難。
這篇與歐洲海運混合氧化物燃料以及其他會產生輻射的貨物相關的全文報導，可以在區域國際環境組織的網站上瀏覽。
The Shetland Islands Council is worried about the safety of its coastal communities during the next few days when a shipment of highly radioactive nuclear fuel is shipped from British to French waters in a vessel the Council says is inadequate for the job. former roll-on roll-off ferry, the Atlantic Osprey, owned by the British Nuclear Group, will transport 1.25 metric tons of mixed oxide fuel, MOX, from a UK nuclear reprocessing facility to Swiss power utility Nordostschweizerische Kraftwerke.
MOX is mixed uranium-plutonium fuel for nuclear power plants, and this shipment contains about 90 kilograms of highly radioactive plutonium. The MOX will be transported by sea from Sellafield on the Irish Sea in Cumbria, UK to Cherbourg, France before it is delivered overland to the Beznau plant in Switzerland.
The Atlantic Osprey has a single hull, just a single engine and will travel unescorted throughout its journey. By contrast, when MOX is transported to and from Japan by British Nuclear, purpose built vessels are used - vessels with twin engines, double hulls and naval armament. Two vessels travel together to provide support in case of an attack.
KIMO International President Councillor Angus Nicolson said, "The arrangements surrounding these proposed shipments are flawed and second rate." "It is absolutely irresponsible in this day and age," he said, "where we are requiring super tankers carrying oil to have double hulls to protect our marine environment.”
The route will pass close to one of the most densely populated areas in the world and will cross some of the busiest shipping lanes. Nicolson points out that the ship is therefore at increased risk of collision or terrorist attack.
There has been a lack of emergency planning in the event of a marine accident involving nuclear material, warns KIMO, which also has concerns about "the questionable integrity of the flasks used to transport nuclear fuel." KIMO takes the position that the transport of nuclear materials should be halted and that nuclear materials should be stored at the point of production. Speaking for the KIMO Secretariat, Rick Nickerson said the potential impact on coastal communities from an accident or terrorist attack on the Atlantic Osprey would be devastating.
A full report on the Transport of Mixed Oxide Fuel and other Radioactive Cargoes by Ship in Europe is available on the KIMO website: www.kimointernational.org
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
