NIS Nuclear Information Service | submarines/UK fleet

Nuclear Submarine Accidents - 14 since 1988 (and 237 fires)

In addition to equipment failures, the government has listed 14 collisions involving British nuclear submarines since 1988 and 237 fires on board the fleet of vessels.

BBC 3rd Apr 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7981569.stm

Hansard on Nuclear Submarines collisions

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submerged collisions involving British nuclear submarines there have been since 2000.

Nuclear Submarine Accident Exercise near Southampton

In advance of a full Exercise of the Sotonsafe Plan on 14th January 2009, a short Exercise took place on 18/11/08 to identify properties in a section of Hythe, a village on the New Forest side of Southampton Water. The task was to test naval ratings'ability to find every home and business in readiness to be able to distribute PITS -- Potassium Iodate Tablets that prevent radiation take up of the thyroid gland. SCANS observed the exercise in order to see if such a distribution is feasible and if all residents and workers in the designated area would have been reached in the event of an accident exposing them to radiation.

Manpower shortages in MoD operational nuclear submarine safety personnel

Nuclear Submarine issues raised in the
Ministry of Defence Annual Performance Report 2007/8

Operational 'pinch points'

Catagory A Nuclear Watchkeepers
Shortfall of 53 Watchkeepers out of 271 - a shortfall of 24%

Cat B Nuclear Watchkeepers
A shortfall of 77 Watchkeepers out of 417 a shortfall of 18%

MoD Annual Performance Report 2007/8

"...an extension of the Devonport Future Nuclear facilities Partnering Agreement to cover £147M additional work to support docking, de-fuel, de-equip and lay-up preparation of nuclear submarines"

"...A £1Bn, ten year Partnering Contract with Rolls Royce Propulsion Engineering to provide in service support of nuclear propulsion plant for Swiftsure, Trafalgar, Vanguard and Astute Class Submarines. The performance and cost incentivised contract forms the first part of a long term strategic partnering and business transformation project."

QinetiQ secures multi-million pound submarine contract

A multi-million pound deal between the Ministry of Defence and UK research establishment QinetiQ has secured the support and expertise needed to ensure the continued operation of the current submarine fleet and the development of technology for future generations it was confirmed today, Wednesday 3 September 2008. The Ocean Basin, a 120 x 60 by 5.5 metre deep fresh water testing tank, will be used for developing and testing Nuclear submarines

Nuclear Accident Risk and History in UK Submarines

The risk of a nuclear accident is ever-present in the operation, servicing and decommissioning of UK submarines. Any accident at sea could affect the reactor. Periodic re-fits or decommissioning require high level radioactive fuel to be removed and stored. Reactors remains in the 15 redundant submarines stored afloat at Devonport and Rosyth in Scotland. Emergency safety plans are constantly exercised by the MoD and Local Authorities. NIS will be listing exercises and a full list of accidents in the near future.