An imminent visit by nuclear powered submarine HMS Torbay to Southampton Docks has been condemned by an international expert in submarine safety for placing public safety at risk.

HMS Torbay, one of the Royal Navy's oldest serving nuclear powered submarines, will visit Southampton Docks from Saturday 13 November until Tuesday 16 November on a public relations trip hosted by Southampton City Council.  

But Consulting Engineer John Large, who recently completed an in-depth review of classified Ministry of Defence (MoD) documents relating to nuclear submarine safety at Southampton on behalf of local environmental Group Solent Coalition Against Nuclear Ships (SCANS), has identified a secret MoD safety assessment which states that risks posed by older 'Trafalgar' class submarines such as HMS Torbay could result in an emergency on a far greater scale than the Royal Navy has planned for.  ... more

An imminent visit by nuclear powered submarine HMS Torbay to Southampton Docks has been condemned by an international expert in submarine safety for placing public safety at risk.

HMS Torbay, one of the Royal Navy's oldest serving nuclear powered submarines, will visit Southampton Docks from Saturday 13 November until Tuesday 16 November on a public relations trip hosted by Southampton City Council.  

But Consulting Engineer John Large, who recently completed an in-depth review of classified Ministry of Defence (MoD) documents relating to nuclear submarine safety at Southampton on behalf of local environmental Group Solent Coalition Against Nuclear Ships (SCANS), has identified a secret MoD safety assessment which states that risks posed by older 'Trafalgar' class submarines such as HMS Torbay could result in an emergency on a far greater scale than the Royal Navy has planned for.  ... more

Emergency arrangements for an accident on board a nuclear powered submarine visiting Southampton have been slammed as inadequate and inconsistent by an independent nuclear expert.

A damning report highlighting a catalogue of contradictions, missing information, and under-assessment of the impacts of a nuclear emergency in the port has been prepared by consultants Large and Associates for local environmental group Solent Coalition Against Nuclear Ships (SCANS). ... more

Emergency arrangements for an accident on board a nuclear powered submarine visiting Southampton have been slammed as inadequate and inconsistent by an independent nuclear expert.

A damning report highlighting a catalogue of contradictions, missing information, and under-assessment of the impacts of a nuclear emergency in the port has been prepared by consultants Large and Associates for local environmental group Solent Coalition Against Nuclear Ships (SCANS). ... more

- Defence spending to fall by 8% in real terms.
- Life of current Trident submarines to be extended.
- Stockpile of operational nuclear weapons to be reduced from less than 160 to less than 120.
- No cuts to troop numbers in Afghanistan.

Despite newspaper headlines lamenting the lack of aircraft available to fly from the two new aircraft carriers which the government has confirmed it will purchase, the Strategic Defence and Security Review confirms the government's intention for the UK to remain a first rate military power that will continue to punch above its weight in the world – albeit on a reduced budget.

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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