SKB Puts Safety and the Environment First When Commissioning its New Vessel

STOCKHOLM, December 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The SKB nuclear cargo vessel m/s Sigyn has served the Swedish nuclear waste programme in a safe way since the beginning of the 1980s. From 2013, a new vessel specially designed to meet strict environmental and safety specifications will take over this task. SKB (The Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Group of The Netherlands to build the vessel.

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There will be a continued need to ensure safe sea transport of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste for a long time to come. SKB has therefore commissioned a new nuclear cargo vessel to replace the m/s Sigyn.

The new ship will be built to meet very high requirements in terms of both safety and the environment. For instance, the new vessel will have redundancy in its propulsion systems, with six smaller fuel efficient engines. It will also be fitted with a selective catalytic refining system for the best possible fuel economy and least possible environment impact.

"Bearing in mind the cargo that the ship will carry, our high demands on safety and environmental protection are self evident," says SKB President Claes Thegerstrom, adding:

"Following a prudent negotiating process, we have been able to sign a contract with the Damen Shipyards Group. Damen is a large company with an excellent reputation, with extensive experience of building ships of different types and sizes.

"Like its predecessor, the new ship will be unique in a number of ways. It is here that Damen have come up with a good concept of their own and listened carefully to the requirements we have put specified."

SKB's current ship the m/s Sigyn will continue to transport spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from Swedish nuclear power stations to SKB's facilities.

"The m/s Sigyn has provided a safe and efficient service since the beginning of the 1980s and will continue to do so for several years to come," says Claes Thegerstrom on a final note.

    About the new ship
    Estimated launch:        2013
    Length:                  99.5 metres
    Width:                   18.6 metres
    Cruising speed:          12 knots

    About the m/s Sigyn:
    Launched:                1982
    Length:                  90 metres
    Width:                   18 metres
    Cruising speed:          12 knots

About the Damen Shipyards Group:

The Damen Shipyards Group has over 30 shipyards and related companies worldwide. Damen is involved in ship construction as well as maintenance and repair activities.

About SKB:

The nuclear power companies in Swedish joined forces in the 1970s to form Svensk Karnbranslehantering AB, SKB. SKB is responsible for a system of facilities used to handle all waste from the Swedish nuclear power plants. These facilities include a central interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel (Clab) near Oskarshamn, and a final repository for short-lived radioactive waste (SFR) in Forsmark.

SOURCE Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co