Abstract: A spent nuclear fuel shipping basket. A shell has a lower wall section of greater thickness than the remainder of the shell and a plurality of notches spaced apart around its inner circumference and extending the length of said shell. A plurality of drain holes are provided in the lower end plate of the shell. A plurality of cruciforms are sized to receive fuel cans. The cruciforms are formed from a neutron absorber and heat transfer material. Ring supports are spaced apart along the length of the shell and receive and transfer operating loads from the fuel cans to the shell and the shipping cask that receives the basket.