Spent nuclear fuel leaves Tokaimura for Rokkasho

TOKAIMURA, Japan - The 4,913-ton Rokuei Maru, carrying 11 tons of spent nuclear fuel, departs from a port at Tokaiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Dec. 16 for the village of Rokkasho in Aomori Prefecture, marking Japan's first transport of such fuel after villagers agreed to its reprocessing. The cargo ship is transporting the fuel from the Tokai No. 2 reactor run by Japan Atomic Power Co. in Tokaimura, and is scheduled to arrive Tuesday in Rokkasho.