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SAFETY AT SEA: Royal Navy silent on nuclear submarine crashes

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.

By Rob Edwards in The Ferret

The Royal Navy has refused to say whether anyone was disciplined following an incident in which a nuclear submarine nearly crashed into a ferry carrying 282 people off the Scottish coast.

The navy also won’t say whether it carried out an independent review to reduce the risks of future collisions. This was recommended by government investigators concerned about the near-miss and two other nuclear submarine crashes.

Campaigners accuse the navy of using the excuse of national security “to cover up dangerous incompetence”. The Scottish National Party (SNP) condemns the secrecy as “absolutely untenable”.

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The navy says it has tightened its procedures, insisting that “appropriate action” was taken. But it would be “inappropriate” to comment on individual cases, it adds.

On 6 November 2018 a naval submarine based at Faslane near Helensburgh came within 50 to 100 metres of a Stena Superfast ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway. The ferry was carrying 215 passengers and 67 crew.

 A Stena Superfast ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan. Pictures by Bill Heaney

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