COVID 19: OUTBREAK AT CLYDE NAVAL NUCLEAR SUBMARINE BASE

Argyll and Bute, Balloch, Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Latest News, Scotland Wide, West Dunbartonshire One comment
HMS Victorious, one of the Royal Navy’s four strategic missile submarines, departs her home port at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane in Scotland today (13 January 2005) for her major refit which will take place at Devonport, Plymouth. Victorious and her sister submarines provide the UK’s national deterrent and can carry up to 16 Trident nuclear missiles.
HMS AUDACIOUS ARRIVES AT CLYDE HOME HMS Audacious, the fourth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines, has arrived at her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde. The new submarine and her 98-strong crew arrived at the Naval Base in Argyll and Bute today (April 7), flying the White Ensign after sailing from BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. Welcoming the vessel to her new home were members of the Submarine Flotilla – SUBFLOT – based at Clyde. “It is with great excitement that we welcome HMS Audacious to the Clyde, joining her three sister submarines,” said Commodore Jim Perks OBE, Head of the Submarine Service. “HMS Audacious represents an ever improving example of the world-leading Astute class submarine. She is right at the cutting-edge of technology, built here in the UK by our own people. She will provide the country with remarkable security at sea to protect our nation’s interests.” HMS Audacious will join sister-submarines HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful which are already in-service and operating from Faslane. A further three boats – named Anson, Agamemnon and Agincourt – are currently under construction at BAE in Barrow. The Astute-class vessels are among the most sophisticated submarines ever constructed for the RoyalNavy.
HMS Talent conducted a base port change from Devonport to Faslane. HMS Talent was welcomed by Rear Admiral Submarines, Rear Admiral Weale OBE, Commander Submarine Flotilla, Cdre J Perks OBE, Commanding Officer HMND Clyde Cdre Doull ADC, Assistant Chief of Staff Submarines Cdre Anstey and Captain of the Base Capt C Mearns RN. This move highlights HMNB Clyde as the home of the Submarine Service and Centre of Specialisation for the service.
Images; LPhot Porridge Oates Helensburgh Remembrance 2018 The service was attended by Sailors and staff from HMNB Clyde. Representing the Naval Base was Naval Base Commander Commadore Donald Doull. The parade marched through the streets of the town watched by members of the public. After there was a sevice held at the cenotaph which included a wreath laying ceremony.

By Bill Heaney

How does one isolate or keep to the social distancing rules for Covid-19 inside a nuclear submarine on  a six week patrol out of Faslane?

The Royal Navy won’t answer that question, but it has confirmed a number of personnel at its main base in the Gareloch have tested positive for Covid-19.

The navy would not say how many people had tested positive in the outbreak at the Faslane base but it said those who had were under medical supervision. Where and when they also didn’t say.

A number of others are self-isolating.

NHS Highland said the outbreak was responsible for an increase in positive cases reported by the health board on Friday.

It added that the outbreak had been contained on the site.

HM Naval Base Clyde, also known as Faslane, on Gareloch and Coulport on Loch Long, is in Argyll  and Bute for local government purposes and NHS Highland for health matters. It is the navy’s base for nuclear submarines and hunter-killer submarines.

A Royal Navy spokeswoman told BBC Scotland said: “We can confirm that a number of personnel at HMNB Clyde have tested positive for Covid-19 and are under medical supervision.

“Personnel identified as having been in contact with those who have tested positive are self-isolating in line with established health guidelines.”

No community spread

Scottish government statistics show there were 98 cases recorded in the NHS Highland region – which includes Argyll and Bute – in the past 24 hours.

That is the health board’s biggest single day rise in cases since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, more local figures show there were 96 cases recorded in Argyll and Bute in the same period.

NHS Highland’s director of public health, Dr Tim Allison, said the increase in cases was due to the Faslane outbreak, which was “contained” at the site.

Dr Allison said: “We understand that there are many interactions between this establishment and the local community.

“However, we would wish to emphasise that while there have been a small number of cases over recent months in people who work on the site and live locally, there are no cases in the wider community directly linked to this current outbreak.

“We also recognise that, over the last few weeks, the Helensburgh and Lomond locality [which is in Dumbarton constituency for Scottish Government purposes] has had a higher rate of infection than the rest of Argyll and Bute and we have been monitoring this closely.”

One comment

  1. Argyll and Bute may not be in Tier 4 but Faslane, Coulport and environs certainly are whereas all other areas are low risk.

    Well suck it up folks and bury your dead, or at least the older ones culled by the virus.

    A small price to pay for our deterrence. And why no local controls on Helensburgh, Rhu and environs. Well I’ll leave that to the more cerebral to work out!

    Reply

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