In the nuclear industry, achievement is good, but it’s even better if you set the bar for Excellence. Once again, USA’s Cook Nuclear Plant’s Dry Cask Loading Team has done just that after recently being presented with two awards from the Holtec Users Group.

The awards were given in recognition of the team’s industry leading cask loading dose performance and innovation related to the Vertical Cask Transporter’s (VCT) on-board communications system.

This was the second campaign in a row where Cook’s Excellence in cask loading dose performance was recognized. The team achieved an industry best dose of 22.8 mR for the 16th cask loaded during the 2015 load campaign.

Contributing to this success was the team’s use of multiple shielding innovations, elimination of seismic restraints, use of time-lapsed photography, remote video monitoring of equipment and personnel. Additionally, live-time dose tracking coupled with direct communications to workers, a focus on continued process improvement and proficiency, a crew commitment to peer coaching and excellence in dose performance are what made this an industry leading effort.

The Dry Cask Team was also recognized for the installation of an on-board communications system that travels with the VCT during any movement. The 75 ton VCT, with its lifting capacity of 205 tons, is diesel driven creating a high noise environment. A communications base unit was installed in the wheeled VCT electrical control cabinet and connected to a VCT power supply.

Without the system, it would make critical communications extremely difficult. Up to 10 noise cancelling head-sets can be used simultaneously providing real time communications between the procedure reader, VCT driver, signalman and cask attachment/detachment team. The head set units are hands free and can operate for hours without interference or loss of power.

Congratulations, and thank you again to Paul Carteaux and Doug Bronicki and their extraordinary team for their dedication to Excellence and bar-setting achievement.

From left, Shane Lies – Site VP, Mark Lloyd – Engineering VP, and on the far right, Joel Gebbie – Chief Nuclear Officer present Dry Cask Leaders Paul Carteaux and Doug Bronicki with two Awards for Excellence from the Holtec Users Group.