Maritime Shipments

• Date released: 10 June 2025
• Request Number: 202505002
• Release of information under: EIR 

1. a) the expected/proposed/ planned future number (2025 onwards) of INF, HLW, MOX and other cargos, from UK Ports to overseas destinations, aboard vessels registered to transport consignments of INF 3, INF 2 and INF 1 grade.

   b) the recorded number of  INF, HLW, MOX and other cargos, from UK Ports to overseas destinations, aboard vessels registered to transport consignments of INF 3, INF 2 and INF 1 grade since such shipments comenced

2. a) the expected/proposed/planned future number (2025 to 2035) of Maritime Shipments of IMDG7 radioactive consignments, from UK Ports to overseas destinations.

   b) the actual, or estimated number of Maritime Shipments of IMDG7 consignments (2015 to 2025) from UK Ports to overseas destinations

3. a) the expected/proposed/planned future number (2025 to 2035) of Maritime Shipments of IMDG7 radioactive consignments, Passing Through In Transit through UK Ports to overseas destinations,  having been loaded at non UK Ports and bound onward for non UK Ports.

   b) he actual, or estimated number of Maritime Shipments of IMDG7 consignments (2015 to 2025) Passing Through and/or In Transit through UK Ports to overseas destinations,  having been loaded at non UK Ports and bound onward for non UK Ports.

Information released

Question 1a

In accordance with regulation 12(4)(a), we can confirm that we do not hold any information about future planned moves. The legal requirement is only for notification of certain movements within seven days of the movement.

Question 1b

In accordance with regulation 12(4)(a), we can confirm that we do not hold data on the INF class of ship being used and we do not hold data broken down by INF/HLW/MOX descriptors.

Question 2a

In accordance with regulation 12(4)(a), we can confirm that we do not hold any information about future planned moves. The legal requirement is only for notification of certain movements within seven days of the movement.

Question 2b

The data set that we hold only goes back to 2020 in an easily searchable format, owing to a newer system superseding the old system.

We can however offer data for the past five years. The following numbers of international transports were reported to ONR for outgoing shipments:

Unfortunately we are unable to provide data prior to this, as to respond fully would require a manual search and extraction of data from approximately 700 emails per year. We estimate that it would take a minimum of two minutes to read through each email and one hour to collate the data in its totality. This would amount to an approximated 24 hours of work per requested year. This activity would place a disproportionate burden on ONR’s resources and would be considered manifestly unreasonable under regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR.

Please note that the above relates only to shipments that require notification to ONR due to the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations (NISR) 2003, or the Agreement for the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) requirements.

There may also be an overlap where single shipments are reported and recorded under both regulations.

Question 3a

In accordance with regulation 12(4)(a), we can confirm that we do not hold any information about future planned moves. The legal requirement is only for notification of certain movements within seven days of the movement.

Question 3b

In accordance with regulation 12(4)(a), we can confirm that we do not hold any information about movements through UK ports in general as there is no legal requirement to inform us of such moves.

In some limited cases, where a package type is being moved through a UK port but does not have UK approval for transport, we are required to issue a Transit Approval. ONR has issued one transit approval in the past five years.

Exemptions applied

12(4)(a) 12(4)(b)

PIT (Public Interest Test) if applicable

N/A