nuclear-news

266 fires on UK’s nuclear submarines

 “Any one of these fires could have had catastrophic consequences and the frequency of these incidents raises the most serious safety concerns.”

Nuclear submarine fire figures revealed BBC News 9 July 12, There have been 266 fires on nuclear submarines in the past 25 years, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. The incidents included 74 on ballistic missile submarines. Three happened while the vessels were in naval bases; one of these was on a ballistic missile submarine.

SNP defence spokesman Angus Robertson said the “apparent
vulnerability” to fire raised “grave questions”…… Mr Robertson
said: “Any one of these fires could have had catastrophic consequences and the frequency of these incidents raises the most serious safety concerns.

“That so many of these incidents occurred on submarines that may have
been nuclear armed is deeply troubling.

“Reports of a fire on a ballistic missiles submarine, while in port,
must be addressed by the MoD – we need to know where this was.

“Beyond the obvious risk to the crew, citizens on shore, and the
environment, a significant fire could severely limit the UK’s ability
to maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent.

“It makes a mockery of any UK claims to having a credible
“independent” nuclear deterrent.”

Information on whether ballistic missile submarines were armed with
nuclear weapons when the fires occurred was not available, Mr Luff
said….. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18761040

July 9, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | incidents, UK