An independent nuclear expert has cast doubt about the ability of emergency services to cope with an accident involving a release of radiation from one of the Royal Navy's nuclear powered submarines when berthed in Southampton Docks.

John Large, who headed the team assessing nuclear and radiation hazards during the salvage of the sunken Russian submarine Kursk, told a public meeting organised by Southampton City Council that staff from the Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service, and Police would be unable to deal with an emergency involving a nuclear submarine without breaching limits for doses of radiation to individual personnel.  

“To the extend that their dose limitation system permits their attendance firefighters will remain in attendance but others, most probably the ambulance trust personnel, more than likely police officers, and most certainly City Council employees will all have to withdraw from the coutermeasures zone”, he said. ... more

An independent nuclear expert has cast doubt about the ability of emergency services to cope with an accident involving a release of radiation from one of the Royal Navy's nuclear powered submarines when berthed in Southampton Docks.

John Large, who headed the team assessing nuclear and radiation hazards during the salvage of the sunken Russian submarine Kursk, told a public meeting organised by Southampton City Council that staff from the Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service, and Police would be unable to deal with an emergency involving a nuclear submarine without breaching limits for doses of radiation to individual personnel.  

“To the extend that their dose limitation system permits their attendance firefighters will remain in attendance but others, most probably the ambulance trust personnel, more than likely police officers, and most certainly City Council employees will all have to withdraw from the coutermeasures zone”, he said. ... more

The two Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites in Berkshire have been included on a secret shortlist of sites where the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is thinking of dumping radioactive waste from defunct nuclear powered submarines, according to an authoritative report in a Scottish newspaper. ... more

A leading nuclear expert is questioning the safety case for allowing the Royal Navy's nuclear powered submarines to visit Southampton and other civil ports.

Independent nuclear engineer John Large – who advised the Russian government on the salvage of the sunken submarine Kursk - has questioned the adequacy of safety arrangements designed to protect the public from the consequences of an accident on board a nuclear submarine berthed in Southampton docks. ... more

The Royal Navy is planning to cut the size of emergency protection zones surrounding berths for its nuclear submarines. Proposals to reduce the size of the counter measures zone surrounding the submarine berth at Southampton docks would see nearly 6000 households denied tablets which could help protect families from radiation in the event of an accident on board a visiting nuclear submarine. ... more

The Royal Navy is planning to cut the size of emergency protection zones surrounding berths for its nuclear submarines. Proposals to reduce the size of the counter measures zone surrounding the submarine berth at Southampton docks would see nearly 6000 households denied tablets which could help protect families from radiation in the event of an accident on board a visiting nuclear submarine. ... more

Two stories on the safety failings at the Faslane base.

Devastating admissions about one of Britain’s most significant nuclear sites are disclosed in MoD documents released under the Freedom of Information Act...

Safety failings are "a recurring theme" at the nuclear submarine base at Faslane. The transfer of three Trafalgar class submarines to Faslane is causing public alarm on the Clyde...

... more