Industry’s ability to have its interests taken fully into account is enhanced to the extent that it is heard speaking as one. WNTI provides a dedicated channel to exchange information and ideas, with a view to developing consolidated positions.
The rationale on which WNTI was founded eight years ago remains as valid today as ever. Safe, efficient and reliable transport is vital to bring the benefits of the peaceful uses of radioactive materials to where they are wanted the world over. The primary focus for WNTI has been meeting the objectives of safety, efficiency and reliability. WNTI has established itself as an authoritative voice for industry in key organisations including, the IAEA, the modal organisations such as the IMO, and the various national authorities. This position has been established through the consistent and dedicated application of industry experience based on solid research and the development of consolidated industry positions.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
WNTI has observer status in the IAEA and as such attends meetings of the Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC); the premier body in the IAEA to recommend on transport safety regulation review and implementation; and WNTI provides experts to assist in the technical work of IAEA consultant service meetings set up to develop positions. To cite one major example, we put forward a Scientific Expert to work on the important Co-ordinated Research Project on surface contamination. Another major study by WNTI explained the adequacy of the regulatory test regime for packages. The internationally agreed package test criteria were arrived at on the basis of a great deal of scientific study and analysis in several countries over many years. This study and analysis is well documented. Industry is committed to meeting the agreed test criteria and it is important that confidence is maintained in the validity of these well-founded, scientifically-based criteria.
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The WNTI also has consultative status in the IMO, and registers industry positions there in the appropriate committees and working groups. Matters of potentially serious consequence for transport of Class 7 materials can and do arise in the IMO - including, for example, issues related to ship and port security and the identification and tracking of ships. There is important overlap in the work of the several organisations, often with transferable experiences, information, and lessons to be learnt - the IMO and IAEA respective work programmes addressing transport security provide one notable example; that is why we think it important to be engaged in these several processes.
WNTI's capacity to represent industry interests is due in large part to its focus on transport issues from a very practical point of view, and developing consolidated industry positions to address them. The WNTI TS-R-1 Industry Working Group addresses the whole range of regulation implementation and review issues, the WNTI Fissile exception focus group reviews the range of important materials, which may be capable of being transported as fissile-excepted packages and the HEXT Industry Working Group takes up issues related to UF6 packaging.
The WNTI Work Programme responds to specific issues of concern of its collective membership. For example, a WNTI industry-led task force is working to find appropriate industry responses to the issues of delays and denials to shipments. Another is exploring possibilities for greater standardisation in the packaging, packing and transport of uranium concentrates. Yet another is exploring the possibility of greater harmonisation in the approaches to criticality assessment. In every case the agenda is industry-driven.
All these activities are designed to support the work of the IAEA, and other essential stakeholders such as national competent authorities in ensuring safe, efficient and reliable transport. This kind of regulator and operator collaboration is a very important part of the process. They also are aimed at improving efficiencies for industry without compromising safety.
Industry’s voice is made more powerful when it is heard as one. WNTI provides companies with a dedicated channel to develop well-researched consolidated positions on practical issues of concern to them, and to have those positions represented at key international meetings where transport safety regulations are reviewed.
