Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of transferring spent nuclear fuel from a pool comprising: submersing a transfer cask having a jacket, a cavity, and a canister within the cavity for receiving spent nuclear fuel into a pool so that the canister fills with pool water, wherein the jacket is empty and hermetically sealed;  placing spent nuclear fuel into the canister;  securing a lid on the canister;  lifting the transfer cask from the pool;  placing the transfer cask in a staging area;  filling the jacket with neutron absorbing liquid subsequent to the transfer cask being placed in the staging area;  draining the pool water from the canister; and  lifting the transfer cask from the staging area. 2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising: claim 1 draining the neutron absorbing liquid from the jacket;  hermetically sealing the jacket; and  submersing the transfer cask having an empty canister in the cavity in the pool for another load of spent nuclear fuel. 3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the jacket is drained by activating drainage means located near a bottom of the jacket. claim 2 4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the drainage means is one or more drain valves which are hermetically sealed when the transfer cask is in the pool and after the jacket is filled. claim 3 5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the jacket is filled by introducing neutron absorbing liquid through filling means located near a top of the jacket. claim 1 6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the filling means are one or more holes which are hermetically sealed when the transfer cask is in the pool and after the jacket is filled. claim 5 7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising: claim 1 backfilling the canister with an inert gas once the pool water is drained. 8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising: claim 1 positioning the transfer cask above a storage cask; and  transferring the canister from the transfer cask to the storage cask. 9. The method of claim further comprising: positioning the transfer cask above a transport cask; and  transferring the canister from the transfer cask to the transport cask.