§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether radioactive materials may be legally transported(a) on passenger ferries and (b) through the Channel Tunnel. [173476]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe information requested is as follows:
(a) Yes. The transport of radioactive material on passenger ferries is permissible subject to the safety requirements and restrictions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, Amendment 31–02, as required by The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997 No 2367); Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1772(M), "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants in Packaged Form—Amendment 31–02 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code" and, where applicable, The Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel etc.) (INF Code) Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No 3216).
(b) Yes. Transport through the Channel Tunnel of limited amounts of radioactive material complying with RID1/ADR2 is permissible only as authorised through Eurotunnel Freight by prior agreement between the manufacturer/producer and Eurotunnel. Radioactive 717W material other than that in/as Excepted Packages is further restricted to new manufactured goods in their original packaging.
1Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) Appendix B. Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM) Annex 1 Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) 2001 Edition.2European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) 2001 Edition.