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UK nuclear submarine leaked radiation in Scottish waters

Radiation leak on nuclear sub off Scots coast Express UK ,  February 17, 2013 BRITAIN’S?nuclear?fleet?suffered?a?dangerous setback after a submarine was docked for emergency repairs following a radiation leak off Scotland. By: Marco Giannangeli HMS Tireless was taking part in a training exercise for new officers off the west coast 10 days ago when a problem developed in its ageing 30-year-old reactor system.
The 4,800 tonne Trafalgar-class submarine was ordered to limp back to Faslane naval base on the Clyde, where engineers inspected the leak. She has now returned to her home base at Devonport and faces up to 10 months in dry dock while repair work is carried out.

The incident has reduced the hunter-killer fleet to five subs instead of the recommended seven plus a spare needed to carry out vital duties, including protecting the UK’s Trident missile-carrying Vanguard subs. Of those five, HMS Astute, Britain’s brand new £1.2billion attack sub which ran aground off Skye in 2010, is still not fully operational, and at least one other is undergoing maintenance.

The leak will also fuel the heated political debate about nuclear submarines operating in Scottish waters. Alex Salmond has offered a cast-iron guarantee that he will expel Trident from the Clyde – where it supports up to 11,000 jobs – if Scots go for independence.

Last night, Angus Robertson MP, the SNP’s Westminster leader and defence spokesman, called on the Ministry of Defence to clarify exactly what had happened. He said: “This is the latest in a long line of alarming incidents involving nuclear submarines off the coast of Scotland.

“We need assurances from the MoD about the particular circumstances of this one, and we need to know that all necessary safety procedures were enacted fully and there was no danger to public safety.”

Royal Navy officials were unable to say exactly where the sub was when the leak developed, but sources confirmed it was in Scottish waters….. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/378241/Radiation-leak-on-nuclear-sub-off-Scots-coastPublished: Sun, February 17, 2013

February 21, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | incidents, UK