A machine for moving a nuclear fuel assembly from a first location to another comprising: a bridge assembly for positioning the machine over the nuclear fuel assembly to be moved; a stationary mast supported from the bridge assembly at a first end and extending down from the bridge assembly in a direction of the nuclear fuel assembly; a moveable mast, telescopingly nested within the stationary mast and configured to extend from the stationary mast and retract within the stationary mast under the control of an operator; characterized by a mast shield canister which is suspended from a lower end of the movable mast and which mast shield canister is adapted to be raised and lowered with the movable mast, said mast shield canister having and an axially extending central opening which is configured such, that the moveable mast can extend through said central opening and is movable over a preselected distance from the stationary mast, the mast shield canister having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, with a first stop on the upper end portion of the mast shield canister and/or on a lower end of the moveable mast adapted to prevent the lower end of the moveable mast from withdrawing out of the upper end portion of the mast shield canister, and a second stop on either or both the stationary mast or the mast shield canister that is adapted to prevent the mast shield canister from moving more than said preselected distance from the stationary mast, such that while the second stop prevents the canister from moving more than the preselected distance from the stationary mast, the lower end of the moveable mast is axially moveable relative to the mast shield canister, the mast shield canister being sized at least to fit over substantially the full length of the nuclear fuel assembly; and a gripper assembly supported at a lower end of the moveable mast and is configured to grip the nuclear fuel assembly through the lower end portion of the mast shield canister. a bridge assembly for positioning the machine over the nuclear fuel assembly to be moved; a stationary mast supported from the bridge assembly at a first end and extending down from the bridge assembly in a direction of the nuclear fuel assembly; a moveable mast, telescopingly nested within the stationary mast and configured to extend from the stationary mast and retract within the stationary mast under the control of an operator; characterized by a mast shield canister which is suspended from a lower end of the movable mast and which mast shield canister is adapted to be raised and lowered with the movable mast, said mast shield canister having and an axially extending central opening which is configured such, that the moveable mast can extend through said central opening and is movable over a preselected distance from the stationary mast, the mast shield canister having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, with a first stop on the upper end portion of the mast shield canister and/or on a lower end of the moveable mast adapted to prevent the lower end of the moveable mast from withdrawing out of the upper end portion of the mast shield canister, and a second stop on either or both the stationary mast or the mast shield canister that is adapted to prevent the mast shield canister from moving more than said preselected distance from the stationary mast, such that while the second stop prevents the canister from moving more than the preselected distance from the stationary mast, the lower end of the moveable mast is axially moveable relative to the mast shield canister, the mast shield canister being sized at least to fit over substantially the full length of the nuclear fuel assembly; and a gripper assembly supported at a lower end of the moveable mast and is configured to grip the nuclear fuel assembly through the lower end portion of the mast shield canister.