Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd

Transport

Radioactive materials are transported routinely every day around the world.

There are millions of movements worldwide each year.

Some of these movements involve materials for the nuclear industry.

Nuclear materials have been moved routinely to and from Dounreay since its development in the 1950s and are expected to continue as part of the site's closure.

The standards governing the transport of nuclear material are set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

These standards are the basis for legislation and regulation drawn up by national governments. In the UK, the Department of Transport is the competent authority. Regulation in the UK is consolidated in the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

Different types of packages are required for different types of material, according to their hazard.

Use of the appropriate package enables materials to be transported by road, sea and air.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority owns a subsidiary company, Direct Rail Services, that provides transport services to the nuclear industry in the UK.

None of the materials moved to and from Dounreay has been involved in an accident that resulted in a breach of the package.

In the event of an accident during a transport in the UK, the RADSAFE network exists to provide specialist support to the emergency services.

For security reasons, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd does not publish information in advance about transports or disclose detailed information.