Flotilla flies the flag against N-shipments (From Western Telegraph)

Flotilla flies the flag against N-shipments

PEMBROKESHIRES fight against a nuclear cargo due to travel up the Irish Sea began in earnest on Sunday with the symbolic launch of the Nuclear Free Seas Flotilla from Fishguard Harbour.

The awareness-raising launch offered an opportunity for smaller vessels to show their support, in what is increasingly being described as a cat-and-mouse game between Government and protesters.

More than 20 vessels left Lower Town, Fishguard, to fix an opposition banner to rocks beyond the harbour breakwater accompanied by an ever-watchful police patrol vessel.

Andrew Clemence, chairman of the Pembrokeshire Anti-Nuclear Association, said: This cargo is totally unsafe to be on the high seas and this is a symbolic gesture highlighting our opposition to it.

The Pembrokeshire economy is totally dependent upon clean seas, should anything happen it would be devastating.

No risk assessment has been made and the inadequacy of plans was illustrated by the handling of the Sea Empress disaster.

Richard Edwards, Labour AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire, said: We are talking about something which risks ruining the whole planet. These shipments must be stopped and returned to Japan, whose cargo it actually is.

Protester Vicky Moller, accompanied by 12-year-old Jessica, said: Sometimes words alone dont make a difference. This protest shows the strength of feeling in this community.

As reported in last weeks issue of the Western Telegraph, the Pacific Pintail, accompanied by the Pacific Teal, is carrying plutonium - enough for 50 Hiroshima-type bombs.

The plutonium was intended for use at a nuclear-fuelled power station in Japan, but was refused entry and is being returned as potentially dangerous.

The ships are due to pass Pembrokeshire some time next week on route to the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, but environmentalists tracking the vessels have reported that they have unexplainably slowed off the coast of Africa and are now due some time between September 15th and 18th.

It is thought the transportation could be followed by up to 50 similar shipments over the next few years.

The main protest flotilla will join groups from Ireland and the Isle of Man when the shipments approach Pembrokeshire waters and they will accompany the ships to Cumbria.

CAPTION

Pembrokeshires Nuclear-free Seas flotilla is launched on Sunday at Lower Town, Fishguard. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.