1.   Under nuclear proliferation safeguards, plutonium shipments have to be accompanied by armed vessels.

2.   A day earlier, a U.S. district judge denied his request to halt the plutonium shipments.

3.   The tension eased slightly Thursday when the U.S. Department of Energy, which operates SRS, said it would delay the plutonium shipments to South Carolina until October.

4.   Opponents say the plutonium shipments are dangerous because terrorists could seize the substance to make nuclear bombs.

5.   Currie ruled last week that physical blockades of the plutonium shipments are illegal and present a possible terrorist target.

6.   Earlier Wednesday, Greenpeace activists protested as the Pacific Teal with its plutonium shipment left Cherbourg bound for Japan.

7.   Greenpeace, part of the coalition of groups opposing the project, says the plutonium shipments could be targeted by terrorists.

8.   His comments came after plutonium shipments, apparently being smuggled out of the former Soviet Union, were intercepted in sting operations in Germany.

9.   Komura assured Shipley that the plutonium shipment was safe and that the fishing will be carried out according to international agreements to preserve the tuna.

10.   The department is expected to announce details next month on plutonium shipments from the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site near Denver to the Savannah River Site.