Mitsui build BNG ship

The British Nuclear Group (BNG) has placed an order with the Japanese shipbuilder Mitsui Engineering to design and build a new INF 3 class nuclear waste vessel for the Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL) fleet following an extensive 11 month tender exercise.

The new ship is expected to be delivered in November 2007 at a cost of $52 million and its home port will be Barrow-in-Furness in the UK. BNG said the yet-to-be named vessel will be a development on the design of the current ships which have cargo compartments protected by a double hull together with back-up availability of all essential systems. BNFL needs nuclear ships to operate until at least 2017 when current contracts for carrying or returning nuclear waste and new Mox fuel, run out.

BAE was not chosen for the work, although experts said the project would not be right for the Barrow shipyard.