The Pacific-Grebe: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

Amid intense protests and a reinforced police presence, seven Castor containers laden with highly radioactive nuclear waste were successfully transferred from the ship 'Pacific Grebe' to railway cars at the Nordenham port on the morning of April 1, 2025. This operation marked a significant step in the transportation of nuclear materials from Sellafield to a temporary storage facility located in Niederaichbach, Bavaria. The nuclear waste, originating from the reprocessing of fuel elements from Germany's decommissioned nuclear power plants, departed Barrow-in-Furness on March 26. Each of the four-meter-long containers, weighing over 100 tons, was meticulously lifted off the ship by a crane and inspected to ensure that radiation levels were consistent with those recorded in Sellafield. Throughout the operation, the port area remained sealed and was under tight security by heavily armed police, who have reported no incidents despite ongoing demonstrations from anti-nuclear activists. Upcoming protests are anticipated along the train's route, particularly in Bremen and Göttingen, emphasizing the strong public sentiment against nuclear energy. For more details, visit the photo report at https://www.dw.com/en/nuclear-waste-returns-to-germany-amid-protests/a-72108958.

The unloading of nuclear waste from the vessel 'Pacific Grebe' has reached its successful conclusion in Nordenham on November 3. Initially, operations faced delays due to adverse weather conditions on the afternoon of November 2. However, the process resumed later that evening, with the offloading of the fourth of six Castor containers. The remainder of the unloading was carried out swiftly on the morning of November 3, finishing by early midday. The nuclear waste is now set for rail transport to its destination in Biblis, although the exact departure time remains unconfirmed.

A nuclear carrier, the 'Pacific Grebe,' is on its journey from Barrow-in-Furness, England to Nordenham, Germany, transporting six castor containers. Initially anticipated to arrive by October 31, 2020, the ship's exact timing depends on weather conditions, as it can only dock during high tide. Authorities have chosen to keep details on the vessel's current whereabouts classified for tactical reasons, leading to an increased police presence at sea, on land, and in the air since October 31. The cargo train waiting at the pier is prepared for a swift transfer of the containers, which involves a radiation measurement before a potential dispatch. If conditions permit, the loading process is estimated to take around a day. Following unloading, the transport will proceed along a single-track route from Midgard Port in Nordenham to Hude. From there, authorities will decide whether to route the train through Delmenhorst and Osnabrück toward Biblis in Hesse or to head via Oldenburg and Papenburg. Both rail routes have been secured, with a heavy police presence in place to safeguard the transport. Protests erupted on October 31, with demonstrations from nuclear opponents in cities including Nordenham, Oldenburg, and Göttingen. The 'Stop Castor' alliance announced ongoing demonstrations in Nordenham on November 1, alongside additional protests organized by 'Robin Wood' at Bremen’s main train station. Vigils from the 'Stop the Castor' alliance continued from October 31. After departing Barrow-in-Furness on the evening of October 27, the 'Pacific Grebe' turned off its AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal, a move that violates international maritime law. This breach has led nuclear opponents to file complaints against the vessel's owner, as AIS is a requirement for ships of a certain size to prevent collisions, with exceptions made only for warships. The 'Pacific Grebe' successfully arrived in Nordenham at 6:40 a.m. on November 2, 2020, with cargo operations commencing shortly after. The developments around this significant transport continue to attract attention amid ongoing protests and public concern over nuclear energy.