from Sunday Herald, 14 April 2013
The Sunday Herald can reveal that HMS Ambush, which was handed over to the Royal Navy last month, was towed back to the Faslane naval base near Helensburgh after coming to an unexpected halt in the middle of Gareloch on Wednesday.
The £1.6 billion submarine was seen to be in difficulties by anti-nuclear campaigners from the Faslane Peace Camp. Members of the crew were observed standing on top of the boat, which was venting steam and surrounded by three tugs.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that the submarine experienced a problem, but has declined to give any details. Something went wrong that “affected a variety of systems on the boat," an MoD spokesman said.
“Following HMS Ambush’s maintenance period undertaken at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, an issue with a non-nuclear system was identified on Wednesday,” he added. “A decision was taken to return HMS Ambush to the naval base to allow remedial action to take place.”
The MoD spokesman insisted that the problem was “minor” and part of “business as usual” during sea trials. But he said that the submarine’s planned schedule had been “interrupted”.
The independent nuclear expert, John Large, however, argued it was “disingenuous” to dismiss the problem as minor. “The MoD should immediately publish a frank and independent risk assessment,” he said.
“We need to know the risks of returning this crippled submarine and its potential radiological impact on nearby Helensburgh and communities further afield. The public deserves to be fully informed if there is any radiological risk and harm deriving from this incident.”
Large, who has advised governments on nuclear submarine safety, suggested HMS Ambush’s propulsion system could have been disabled. “This would be a completely intolerable event if Ambush was on patrol during which she is expected to operate at a war footing without need for nearby assistance,” he said.
The Scottish Nationalist leader in Westminster, Angus Roberston MP, said he would be demanding details of what happened from the MoD. “Any incident involving a nuclear submarine is worrying and this is not the first time something alarming like this has occurred in Scottish waters,” he said.
“The MoD often points to teething problems when the first in a class of boat or submarine is launched. But as this is the second, that makes it even more of a concern, particularly so close to the centres of population on the Clyde.”
HMS Ambush is Britain’s second reactor-driven submarine in the new Astute class, designed to carry non-nuclear warheads. She was commissioned into the navy at a ceremony at Faslane on 1 March before 500 invited guests.
For the occasion First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, was upbeat. “These vessels represent the cutting-edge of military technology and the future of UK submarine operations for many years to come,” he said.
But the submarines, starting with the first in the series, HMS Astute, have been dogged with delays, cost overruns and technical problems. A leaked MoD memo last year warned that corrosion would cause “severe problems” for the boats because of cost cutting.
HMS Astute, meant to be one of the stealthiest ships in the world, famously ran aground for all to see off the Isle of Skye for ten hours in October 2010. Then a fin was damaged in a collision with a rescue tug.
John Ainslie, the co-ordinator of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, described last week’s incident as the latest in a long catalogue of problems. “It is a sign of the dangers which Scotland faces from all the nuclear submarines on the Clyde,” he said.
“The navy's vague description of the incident is a cause for concern. They are eager to say that this was not a nuclear issue, but have failed to describe what went wrong.”
Grainy photos of the HMS Ambush incident taken by the Faslane Peace Camp can be seen here.
This story was followed up by The Scotsman and the Daily Record.
Comments