By CATHY ARONSON
Two ships carrying enough uranium and plutonium to make 50 nuclear bombs could pass through the Tasman Sea, raising environmental and terrorism concerns.
The Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal - carrying 225kg of weapons-useable mixed uranium and plutonium oxide fuel (MOX) - will travel from Japan to England next month.
The ships could use one of three routes but Greenpeace fears they will favour the Tasman because it is the safest. Of the other two, the Panama Canal is considered a high terrorist risk and around the bottom of South America is too stormy.
The fuel was shipped to Japan three years ago but the British Government-owned British Nuclear Fuels, BNFL, admitted faking safety records and was ordered to take the cargo back.
In March last year, the company also transported the same type of fuel on the same ships between France and Japan, passing through the Tasman and prompting a flotilla protest. Under international sea law, they could have entered New Zealand's 200-mile exclusive economic zone but did not after the Government asked them not to.
Foreign Minister Phil Goff has not yet been told if the boats will use the Tasman but the Government is expected to again ask them to stay outside the 200-mile zone. New Zealand's nuclear-free zone extends 12 miles offshore.
Protesters are preparing to launch a flotilla of about 10 yachts to try to intercept the ships. International experts have also warned that the ships could be terrorist targets.
Mr Goff said the Government did not support the shipment because although BNFL had safeguards, an accident at sea or "security risk" was still possible.
The Government relied on an unofficial agreement that the ships would not go through NZ's economic zone as they were allowed to under international sea law.
Greenpeace nuclear campaigner Bunny McDiarmid said the organisation believed the Tasman Sea was the most likely route.
Attempts by the Greens to force ships such as the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal to stay out of the 200-mile zone by an act of Parliament failed two weeks ago.
Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' nuclear-free extension bill proposed to extend the nuclear-free zone from 12 to 200 miles and include highly hazardous nuclear waste and cargoes instead of just nuclear weapons.
"The same law of the sea gives states the right and duty to protect the environment and fishery within the 200-mile economic zone. It's hard to see how you can do that if you can't exclude hazardous cargoes from that area."
After Parliament voted against the bill, Mr Goff told the House that New Zealand had in the past successfully opposed the ships entering its exclusive zone without breaching international law.
"We are a small country. We rely on the rule of international law.
"If we show ourselves willing to breach international law, then we have no credibility when we seek its protection."
BNFL could not be contacted but its website said a shipment would be moving from Japan to Britain.
It says the vessels are strong and safe, armed with cannon and have armed guards and reinforced hatch covers.
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