NIS Nuclear Information Service | submarines/SCANS

Southampton nuclear submarine visit puts public safety in jeopardy

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.

Independent report highlights risks of nuclear powered submarine visits to Southampton

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).

Emergency services could not cope with nuclear submarine accident

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.

Independent expert challenges nuclear submarine safety arrangements

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.

Navy plans to cut size of nuclear submarine protection zones

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.

Nuclear Submarine Not Welcome in Southampton Docks

Nuclear powered submarine, HMS Trafalgar arrived into Southampton Docks on Friday morning, before the Sotonsafe Nuclear Safety Plan is due to be tested on 14th January 2009. All emergency services and the City Council are on standby in case there is a problem with this 27 year-old submarine. The 5-day Public Relations Exercise and recruitment drive will be undermined by Trafalgar’s recent nuclear accident at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth and the difficulty in protecting people in the Southampton area and beyond in the event of a nuclear accident.

Nuclear submarine to use Southampton Docks again

Date: FRIDAY 5^TH DECEMBER 2008

Time: Around 12 noon

Location: BERTH 38. DOCK GATE 4