Cameco Uranium Shipment(Vancouver, BC)
On January 14, 2011, Cameco Corporation informed the CNSC that a ship carrying uranium concentrate encountered extremely rough seas, resulting in damages to some of its containers. The ship returned to Canada and docked at the Port of Vancouver to allow for further inspection of the material.
Latest updates
May 6, 2011: The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has completed its final radiological verification of the decontamination work performed by Cameco on the cargo hold of the MCP Altona. CNSC staff have conducted an independent verification and have confirmed that no residual contamination of uranium concentrate (also called “yellowcake”) remains in the cargo hold, and that all surface contamination has been removed. CNSC specialists have reviewed the final survey results and are satisfied that the vessel meets the surface decontamination criterion that was approved by the CNSC. The vessel can return to its normal use.
The CNSC further confirms that no risk to health and safety of the crew, the public or the environment resulted from this incident.
Read the CNSC's letter to Cameco (PDF) on the decontamination survey results.
- March 22, 2011: All of the sea containers have been safely removed from the Altona and are now back at the Key Lake mill in Saskatchewan
- Update on uranium shipment (source: Cameco Web site)
- Update on uranium shipment (source: Cameco Web site)
- January 19, 2011: Early Notification Report presented to the Commission Tribunal
- January 14, 2011
Update on uranium shipment (source: Cameco Web site)