campaign for nuclear disarmament
PRESS RELEASE – 10th JANUARY 2005
CND
DEMANDS ANSWERS ON SAFETY CONCERNS
SURROUNDING NUCLEAR SUBMARINE REFIT IN PLYMOUTH
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has today sent a list of recommendations to Les Neverton, Head of Environmental Services at Plymouth City Council. The letter highlights a number of serious concerns CND has about safety issues involved in the ten year refit programme of Britain’s nuclear powered, nuclear armed submarines in Devonport Dockyards. The concerns CND has raised highlight serious safety concerns for the people of Plymouth and the recommendations are ones the Council must put to the Ministry of Defence.
These recommendations come at a crucial time. The first of four nuclear submarines has finished its refit and the second, HMS Victorious, will be sailing into Devonport Dockyards by the end of the month.
The first Submarine to undergo a refit, Vanguard, was due for a two year refit which in fact overran by eight months, prompting MPs’ questions and media enquiries about the costly extension to the already financially crippling programme. The MOD had to admit that they were struggling with reactor problems on Vanguard that were causing many months’ delay. Looking at the Navy’s recent record with submarine disasters, this does not bode well for the future.
Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said,
"We have serious concerns about the mounting series of problems the Navy is experiencing with the new submarine technology; these problems present grave safety concerns for the population of Plymouth. We are asking the council to address these concerns before allowing the next Submarine to arrive in Plymouth.
This refit programme is part of a bigger picture. The vast tragedy of the Tsunami has been a timely reminder that the government should be spending money on international aid to relieve suffering and not weapons to cause more. This is yet another example of the government putting its warmongering considerations first. Our government is committed under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to getting rid of its nuclear weapons. Instead, they are refitting the Trident nuclear weapons submarines: not only failing to comply with their Treaty obligations, but also bringing great dangers to the people of Plymouth and the crews of these submarines. The refit must be brought to an end and Trident scrapped."
| Les
Netherton, Head of Environmental Services, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Civic Centre, Floor Six, Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 2AA. 7/1/05 Dear Sir, Following the departure of HMS Vanguard from the Royal Naval Dockyards Devonport, you will be aware that in a matter of weeks, HMS Victorious will be admitted for an identical refit. The announced refit period for the first refuel and refit overran due to severe problems encountered with the submarine’s radioactive core. In the report issued by the National Audit Office in December 2002 a number of concerns were raised relating to facilities that were not completed in time to conduct a full and thorough safe refit. The NAO referred to "delays to the programe of submarine refit work". They went on to say, "The one exception is the final part of the Primary Circuit Decontamination Building which will not be substantially completed until December 2003.This will not be in time for the refit of HMS Vanguard, but in time for that of the second Vanguard class submarine in 2004.The delayed delivery of these facilities is only acceptable because HMS Vanguard has low radiation levels. DML is therefore able to use an alternative method, involving the use of lead shielding, to allow work on the submarine to proceed. This alternative will not be available for work on the next submarine of the class. Surveys have shown that this submarine will require a fully functioning Primary Circuit Decontamination Building". It seems clear that a badly-prepared dockyard was rushed into service for this first refit, resulting in HMS Vanguard going to sea last week, still carrying an unflushed Primary Circuit. Will this result in increased marine contamination when HMS Vanguard returns for overhaul in 2012? Before HMS Victorious enters the Dockyards CND would like to make some recommendations to the Council. We would urge the Council to challenge the MOD as to whether all Dockyard facilities are now fully functioning and present no safety risks to the Dockyard workers or the city population. We would also recommend that the Council asks for reassurances from the MOD that serious problems encountered with refueling and fitting of a new design of core to HMS Vanguard, resulting in costly delays, will not repeat themselves in this next refit. With the last few years of operational disasters that the Navy has experienced, the public has lost confidence in the service’s much vaunted safety record. CND understands that two Trafalgar class submarines are at the moment unable to leave port due to safety concerns related to the well-publicised Tireless fault in this class of submarine, again proving an embarrassment for the Navy. The reactors in the Trafalgar class are not dissimilar to one fitted to the Vanguard class. Could we see this generic fault repeating itself in the larger vessels in a few years’ time? Finally we would suggest that the Council consults with the Dockyards to review the results of the recent emergency exercise "Short Sermon". David Fletcher, EPO for Plymouth Council, will no doubt be re-examining the evacuation procedures for Plymouth in the light of changing advice from Government. Perhaps the final report on the findings from the exercise should be made available immediately, so that the public can be assured that its interests in the safety areas are being fully looked after. We feel sure the Council will be seeking assurances on a number of areas of concern that will have arisen following HMS Vanguard’s protracted visit to the Royal Dockyards. CND hopes to have assisted Plymouth in examining this controversial issue, and asks "Is there cause for concern?" Yours sincerely, Patrick M. Van den Bulck - Campaigns Officer National CND |
Trident - Britain's nuclear weapon system.
Trident is Britain's nuclear weapon system. It consists of four nuclear-armed submarines, one of which is on operational patrol at all times. Each Trident submarine carries 48 nuclear warheads, each of which can be sent to a different target. Each warhead has an explosive power of up to 100 kilotons, the equivalent of 100,000 tons of conventional high explosive and 8 times the power of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people.
CND believes that Trident is illegal, immoral and a waste of resources. It does nothing to increase world security and undermines international efforts to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Replacing TridentA decision on the possible replacement of the Trident submarine nuclear weapons system is due in the next parliament. It is reported that the government has not yet decided what it will propose. But now is the time for us to step up our campaigning to make it clear that we don't want any kind of replacement for Trident - no strategic nukes, no tactical nukes - in fact, NO nukes at all! Make this clear to your MPs now!'
Trident and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
CND believes that to fulfil its international legal obligations, the Government should comply with its unequivocal commitment under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty by immediately decommissioning Trident and ruling out plans for future nuclear weapon systems.Issues of concerns for the residence of Plymouth:
Radioactive discharge
- The people of Plymouth are extremely concerned about the effects of the radioactive discharge from the submarine being refitted
- There is particular concern about Tritium. A radioactive element created in the core and coolant system of the submarines whilst on operational service.
Contamination of the Marine environment
- Once docked at Devonport, tritium is discharged from the reactor into the River Tamar.
- Tritium contamination of the River Tamar and the surrounding marine environment is one of the most damaging results of the submarine refits.
Emergency planning issues
- Local people are also concerned by the poor systems in place in the case of Nuclear Emergency.
- Totally inadequate guidance, reminiscent of that given to the main characters in the cartoon novel ‘When the Wind Blows’, has been produced for residents.
History of protest in Plymouth
- The Nuclear Free Coalition was formed in 2002 to campaign against the refit
- CND are at the centre of this large local protest movement which included CANSAR, Friends of the Earth and local woman’s groups, anti war groups and local environmental campaigners and individuals all opposed to the refit taking place in their community.
- The biggest demonstration in Plymouths history took place in October 2002.
- Over 1000 people marched from Plymouth Hoe to the Devonport Docks
Ruth Tanner, Press and Communications Officer, CND - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
direct line 020 7700 2350 | switchboard 020 7700 2393 | mobile 07968 420859 | fax 020 7700 2357
e-mail pressoffice@cnduk.org | web www.cnduk.org