On June 30th 1999, TEPCO/Kansai, COGEMA and BNFL announced that the voyage route for the shipment of MOX fuel from Europe to Japan would be communicated one day after the actuel departure date from Europe.
The "Pacific Pintail" and "Pacific Teal" departed Europe together on July 21st 1999 at 16:53 GMT. They are now en route to Japan via the Cape of Good Hope and the South West Pacific. Approximate timing of arrival in Japan is scheduled around the latter half of September.
The transportation of nuclear material, including MOX fuel, is strictly governed by an established system of international regulations covering the special transport packages, known as casks, the design of the purpose-built ships, and the physical protection arrangements.
Nuclear material has been safety transported by sea since the 1960's. For the MOX shipments, two armed PNTL vessels escort each other, and they depart from Europe together. This statement is being released simultaneously in the UK, France and Japan by BNFL, COGEMA and TEPCO/Kansai respectively