The transport — from the manufacturing plant to the construction site is most probably the main limiting aspect of pressure vessels of integral reactors. Though there were several pressure vessels the manufacture of which was completed on the site, the present interest both of plant owners and manufacturers is to have shop-fabricated pressure vessels.

There are three possible ways of transporting such a large and heavy component: railway, road, ship or a combination of them.

Railway transport Advantages =

— accessibi1 іty: both manufacturing plants and construction sites are usually served by railway.

Disadvantages:

— limitations in the diameter (transporting profile) and in the weight.

— a special railway truck is needed

Advantages:

— accessibi1 іty■ both manufacturing plants and construction sites have an access by road.

— variability^ there is a variety in choosing a most convenient route of transport.

D і sadvantages =

— limitations in diameter (not so strict as at railways: there

is more possibilities in the selection of the route),

— a special truck is needed

Water transport Advantages =

— no limitations by dimensions and weight

— low price

D і sadvantages =

— access ibi 1 і ty-‘ navigable water way is needed both at the manufacturing plant and on the site

Combined transport:

For the final part of the route, both-. railway and water transport are combined with the road one for the transport from the port or railway station to the reactor building.

A combination: railway — ship — road — sship was used at the

transport of the VVER-1000 vessel from Plzen to Belene in Bulgaria.