NUCLEAR SUBMARINES INVOLVED IN 14 COLLISIONS.

NUCLEAR SUBMARINES INVOLVED IN 14 COLLISIONS.

‘DIARY OF NEAR DISASTERS’ LEAVES QUESTIONS OVER NUCLEAR SUB SAFETY.

SNP Westminster Leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP has expressed concern following an admission by the Ministry of Defence that UK nuclear submarines had been involved in 14 collisions since 1979. Parliamentary Questions also revealed that there had been 213 fires onboard nuclear submarines.

Commenting, Mr Robertson said:

“Last month’s mid-Atlantic collision between HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant was serious enough, but this diary of near disasters is extremely disturbing.

“One collision is one too many - especially when it involves a submarine carrying weapons of mass destruction. The possible consequences do not bear thinking about.

“Revelations that there have been more than 200 fires aboard nuclear submarines over the past twenty years are equally grave.

“Majority opinion in Scotland is opposed to the Trident weapons system based on the Clyde and this worrying catalogue of incidents raises serious concerns safety concerns.

“This comes on top of a procurement debacle which has seen the MoD unable to answer basic questions as to whether new missiles will fit in the replacement Trident submarines. The credibility of the nuclear deterrent is in tatters.

“Now, more than ever, the time is right to remove nuclear weapons from our waters."