Dounreay aerial view

Press Release

More than 270 fragments of nuclear fuel have been recovered from the seabed since the latest phase of offshore clean-up got underway at the start of August.

Of the 279 recovered to date, 40 fragments have been categorised as a “significant risk” to health, with the remainder falling into lower levels of radioactivity.

The fragments are being detected in an area of 12.5 hectares – equivalent in size to 17 international football pitches – in the vicinity of a disused seabed outfall 600 metres offshore.

A remotely-operated vehicle equipped with the Groundhog detection system is criss-crossing the seabed in water up to 30 metres deep, retrieving fragments using a front-mounted auger and suction system.

The operation is controlled by a team of 22 working around the clock on a barge anchored offshore. Twenty-three days have been lost to bad weather. The main contractor is Land and Marine, supported by Nuvia.

The clean-up has cost £1.5 million so far this year. It continues into October