Last updated 11:54, Thursday, 01 May 2008

By Jon SimpsonTHE first nuclear freight ship purpose-built for Barrow in the past 21 years is on its way to the town from Japan.

The £30m Pacific Heron heralds the start of a new era of modern ships, which will be used to carry shipments like Mox fuel and high level waste, both containing plutonium, from Sellafield and from France to Japan.

It has left Japan without any cargo and is making a 6,000-mile voyage to Barrow.

It is expected to arrive mid June.

Despite the fact that it is the first such new ship for years, BNFL says there are no plans at this stage for either a public open day or a special welcome for the Pacific Heron.

The vessel is owned by Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd, a company jointly owned by UK, French and Japanese interests and which has Barrow as its home port. In the UK the PNTL company is in turn part of International Nuclear Services.

Pacific Heron is expected to be armed with cannons and will be managed and crewed by the James Fisher and Sons plc group in Barrow, like the existing four nuclear fleet ships, three of which, Pacific Pintail, Pacific Sandpiper, and the European Shearwater, are based at the nuclear terminal in Barrow, and the fourth of which, Atlantic Osprey, is based in Workington.

During cargo voyages it will have armed nuclear industry police on board. The Pacific Heron’s modern design includes a triple hull the length of the ship’s sides to protect nuclear flask cargos from collision damage, and better radiation screening between the cargo and the crew.

With all the latest equipment and optimum design, the 4,500 tonne ship needs a crew of just 20 instead of the 27 aboard nuclear freighters based in Barrow.

The ship was built by Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding yard in Japan after UK yards – including Barrow – declined to make a bid.

Two more ships for BNFL are being designed now and will be built next year in Japan to be in service at Barrow in 2010.

High level waste shipments from Barrow will last at least 10 years.