Putin red-faced after new Russian navy boat sinks during final building work
One of Russia's new naval ships has met an early demise after capsizing and sinking in a busy Baltic shipyard.
Tugboat Kapitan Ushakov was undergoing final outfitting in St. Petersburg when it began tilting sharply, prompting a frenzied response from shipyard teams to save the vessel.
The new outfitting was too much for the boat to handle, and it was lying on its side just a few hours after it began tipping on August 8.
The 70-metre boat was first launched in June 2022 and was intended to tow larger vessels, fight fires and help with search and rescue missions.
Russian officials have launched an investigation into potential construction safety violations to see what led to the sinking.
Initial reports found that a flood began in the machinery compartment of the ship.
The accident happened just months after North Korea lost a ship in a similar way, as Kim Jong Un watched on.
In May, North Korea's second naval destroyer capsized during a failed water launch after becoming damaged during rushed attempts to 'modernise' its naval forces.
The new destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck.
Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a 'serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism'.
The blundering workers placed a massive blue tarp over the half-sunken ship to cover their mistake.
Local news did not provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of the damage or whether anyone was injured. More Trending
It's uncommon for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, so the disclosure of the failed ship launch suggests that Mr Kim is serious about his naval advancement programme.
Navy expert Moon Keun-sik, from Seoul's Hanyang University, said: 'It's a shameful thing.
'But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is that it wants to show it's speeding up the modernisation of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build a greater Navy.'
Moon said the accident happened because North Korean workers rushed to put the ship in the water.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
Submarine exam resits ‘put Britain's nuclear deterrent credibility at risk'
Britain's nuclear deterrent risks a 'potentially catastrophic' loss of credibility because submarine captains are being allowed to resit their command exams. The Royal Navy's Perisher course, which tests whether officers are made of the right stuff to take charge of a nuclear submarine, is revered by navies around the world because students only have one chance to pass its gruelling final test. Yet the Navy has now admitted that students are being allowed to retake Perisher's final sea phase. Former submariners expressed concern to The Telegraph about the change in policy, warning that the watering down of the course risked jeopardising the credibility of those in charge of Britain's nuclear deterrent. There is growing public concern over the state of the Navy, with unprecedented numbers of ships and submarines unable to put to sea through a combination of mechanical defects and crew shortages. Rob Forsyth, a former Teacher, or chief instructor, of Perisher in the 1970s explained that the course's famous pass-or-leave ethos had bred the best of submarine captains among Western navies. 'The commanding officer is akin to God and must not be thought to have a weakness,' said Mr Forsyth. 'My view then, and still is, that there were some who could, some who never could and a very few who could but lacked the confidence at first to know this and needed a push to show them they could be safe and competent COs [commanding officers]. 'Some of these got there fine, always viewed as my success stories, but some remained marginal and had to be failed. To give them a second go would have been to weaken the whole concept of Perisher and undermine the relationship of trust between crew and captain who would know that he was a 'round again' qualifier.' His sentiments were echoed by another former Teacher from the early 2010s, Ryan Ramsey, who said: 'I have two issues with reruns. First, if you've already seen the sea phase, you know the scenarios. That short-term familiarity can hide the true weaknesses the course is designed to expose. 'Second, this isn't a driving test. Passing Perisher means you're trusted to take a nuclear submarine and its crew into harm's way. If you fail, fail again, then pass, you may carry a credibility problem into command, and credibility is everything when the stakes are military, political and potentially catastrophic.' Student evades four 'enemy' warships' During Perisher, would-be captains are put in charge of a submarine under the watchful eye of a qualified Teacher. Students are put through a gruelling four-phase course lasting up to five months. The final phase of Perisher is a practical exam with the student evading up to four 'enemy' warships trying to hunt down and sink the trainee's boat. A naval insider said that if Perisher staff feel a student needs more experience, he can be sent back to sea and retake the course again later in his career. 'This normally only happens during Phases 1-3. It would be exceptional to happen on Phase Four but is not excluded,' said the insider. It is not known whether any current submarine commanders have passed after resitting Phase 4. A Royal Navy spokesman said that 'unsuccessful candidates on the Submarine Command Course have been able to reapply since 2013' and said 'the high standards required to pass have not changed'. 'Candidates who are initially unsuccessful may go on to be reselected, but only once they have demonstrated their potential while gaining additional experience in the fleet,' the spokesman said. Mr Ramsey said: 'In 2013, I became the first Perisher Teacher to take a rerun student – someone removed from the Submarine Command Course before the sea phase,' he said. 'I didn't ask why at the time; I wanted my assessment to be entirely objective. He was the lead student in the simulator phase, but when we went to sea, I failed him. Later, I learnt my predecessor had removed him for the exact same reason. We agreed as an organisation not to try that again.' When asked if his statement claiming that students have been able to resit the Perisher course since 2013 was accurate, the Navy spokesman said he had nothing to add.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Trolls said my daughter ‘wouldn't ever get a job' when I took her out of school but now she's going to UNI at 14
Her day looks nothing like the rigid timetable of most 14-year-olds WHIZZ KID Trolls said my daughter 'wouldn't ever get a job' when I took her out of school but now she's going to UNI at 14 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PROUD mum has shared news of her daughter's entry into university at just 14, despite trolls slating her online. But unlike the thousands of students who received their A-level grades this week, Millie Smith from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, didn't bag a single one. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Kim pulled her daughter Millie, 14, out of school at just 10-years-old Credit: Supplied 6 Millie is now ready to start her university psychology degree Credit: supplied Her mum, Kim Smith, 33, in fact decided to take her daughter out of school at the age of just ten - a move that prompted hundreds of strangers to question her parenting choices. 'People said she'd never get a job, that she'd be socially awkward, that she'd fall so far behind she'd never catch up,' says mum-of-two Kim. 'It was constant, people love to tell you you're doing the wrong thing.' But four years on, Kim has the ultimate comeback. Read more on parenting CLASS ACT Parents racing to buy back to school essentials & they bag a haul for under £10 Millie, now 14, has just been accepted onto a BSc Honours in Psychology course and she's doing it without a single GCSE or A-level to her name. 'She'll be doing her degree before most kids her age even start their A-levels,' Kim proudly tells Fabulous. 'And she's done it on her own terms.' Millie's educational journey took an unexpected turn during the Covid lockdowns. Like millions of parents, Kim found herself suddenly in charge of her daughter's learning but she quickly realised the school's remote lessons weren't working for them. Kim says: 'A lot of kids were struggling, and parents didn't understand the new teaching methods. 'It was causing so many arguments in homes everywhere. I thought, why are we forcing this? So we stopped following what the school sent and made our own work instead.' Psychotherapist Dr Richard Hogan's top five tips for parenting in 2025 Those first few months gave Kim a taste of how different learning could be. A few months after Millie returned to school, she left for good, beginning her home education. Learning beyond the classroom Kim explains how she adopted a "child-led" learning approach. 'At first, everyone tries to replicate school at home, the timetable, the subjects, but I quickly realised education isn't just about copying from a book or following a set curriculum. 'We moved to a child-led approach, where Millie chose the topics that interested her, like space, ancient Egypt, plants, even hair dye, and we built all the learning around that.' 6 The family enjoy outdoor, hands on activities and aren't restricted to a classroom Credit: Supplied "That flexibility meant lessons could happen anywhere — on the sofa, at the park, even at the beach. 'People think home education means you're stuck indoors all day, but we're always out doing things,' Kim explains. If Millie wanted to learn maths while sitting on a beach, we could. And if she felt too unwell in the morning, we could move lessons to the afternoon. It's about listening to her needs.' Kim says her partner Luke, "teaches Millie about engines, maintenance and modifications of motorbikes and push bike". The pair also share an interest in history and will often watch lots of educational documentaries together. Luke suffered a heart attack and stroke in January and 14-year-old Millie has since helped him bring his speech and memory back using her knowledge of psychology and therapies. Kim says with Millie's help "he's now almost back to himself and is back at work and helping with her home education". Kim also tackled one of the biggest criticisms levelled at home education, which is the lack of socialisation. The mum posts on social media on her account @learninghappiness where she has amassed over eight thousand followers and 42,000 likes on TikTok. Throughout her time sharing her journey with followers, she's received backlash, particularly about her daughter's social interaction skills post home education. One troll wrote: "Academic success is great but there's no substitute to the social interaction of school." Another added: "Home education is really restricted in seeing other children and meeting people." But the mum clapped back, de-bunking this stereotype. 'When people say, 'But won't she be lonely?' I ask, 'What makes you think that?'' Kim said. 'In school you're told to sit down and be quiet, that's not socialising." Home-educated kids mix with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. It's actually more organic than socialising in a classroom.' When Kim couldn't find enough nearby meet-ups to suit her work schedule, she started her own home education group. 'We've now got nearly 2,000 families,' she says. 'We meet a couple of times a week, run workshops, and even hold a prom every year so the kids don't miss out.' One prom, she recalls, summed up the difference between mainstream and home education. 'A child came wearing a suit and a toy octopus on their head. In school they'd have been ripped apart. "Here, all the kids ran over saying, 'Wow, you look amazing, can I try your hat?' Me and my partner cried — it was such a beautiful moment of acceptance that you wouldn't get at a normal school.' Homeschooling Rules in the UK In the UK, homeschooling is a legal and viable option for parents... English and Welsh parents do not need permission to educate their child at home, but they must notify the school in writing if they are withdrawing their child from a school to home educate Scottish parents must obtain consent from their local council before withdrawing their child from school, unless the child has never attended a public school Parents must ensure their child receives an efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability, and any special educational needs There is no requirement to follow the National Curriculum, take standard exams, or adhere to school hours However, parents still need to ensure their little ones are being adequalty educated. Otherwise, your local council can step in. Your local council can make informal inquiries to ensure your child is receiving adequate education They may even request information about the home education provision to ensure the learning material is suitable If the council believes your child is falling short, it can serve a School Attendance Order or issue a notice for attendance Real-world lessons Millie's 'school day' looks nothing like the rigid timetable of most 14-year-olds. Mondays might mean creative writing club, Tuesdays arts and crafts, Wednesdays book club, Fridays outdoor nature sessions. 6 Millie pursues her hobbies and interests as part of her education Some days she does academic work, other days she focuses on hobbies or independent study. 'She's done university-level psychology courses online through Coursera, just because she wanted to,' Kim says. Kim has also made sure Millie learns life skills alongside academics. 'In January, my partner had a heart attack and stroke,' she adds. 'For a week, Millie ran the house. I gave her my bank card and a budget, and she shopped, cooked, cleaned, made sure we had clothes for hospital visits — everything. "She wouldn't have learned that in school.' Getting into uni without exams The Open University doesn't require GCSEs or A-levels for older applicants but for under-16s like Millie, the bar is high. 'They asked why she wanted to do psychology, did a phone interview, and set her a task,' Kim says. 'She had a month to write a 250-word essay explaining the 'Mozart effect'. "She finished it in three hours. The next morning, she got her acceptance email.' Millie will start part-time so she still has time for hobbies and friends, but even at that pace she's on track to graduate before she turns 21. Kim is clear about the advantages of home education: personalised learning, flexible pacing, more time for passions, and strong life skills. But it's not without challenges. 'You have to be really hands-on as a parent, especially at first,' she admits. 'It takes time to find your rhythm and balance work with your child's needs. And some families might find the lack of a ready-made peer group tricky without making the effort to join communities.' 'I'm not saying it's for everyone, but it could work for far more kids than the system allows for,' Kim says. Still, for Kim and Millie, it's been worth it. Kim shared her daughter Millie has dyslexia and dyspraxia, but wasn't getting the attention she needed from teachers. "When Millie first left school, her teacher had basically told her that she had to choose between either being bad at spelling or bad at writing for SATs. "I said to them, that's a little bit like saying to someone whose legs aren't working and sight is bad that they have to choose between glasses or a wheelchair - it's ridiculous. "Millie now loves writing and asks to go to creative writing classes, she just needed some attention and support." The current school system is outdated. It's more focused on grades for league tables than what's best for the child." "Millie's proof you can succeed without it.' And as for the trolls who doubted her, Kim laughs: 'I don't need to tell them they were wrong. Millie's going to university at 14, that says it all.' 6 Millie is enrolled at Open University
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- South Wales Guardian
Veteran, 100, witnessed official ceremony marking Japan's surrender
Reg Draper was a stores assistant on Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York, which was sailing off the coast of Japan in August 1945 when the country surrendered. His memories of his time at sea include rationing out a daily tot of rum for every member of the crew and coming off worst in a hockey tackle with Queen Elizabeth II's future husband. Mr Draper, who grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the crew cheered when news of Japan's surrender came from the captain. He said: 'All the ships mustered in Tokyo Bay with the USS Missouri, which was the American ship, and it was on the Missouri where they signed the peace treaty. 'Then we all came back down to Australia and we went and celebrated – we went down to Tasmania and everybody had four days leave in Hobart. 'Everybody wanted to take us to their home and there were a couple of dances in the dance hall.' Mr Draper witnessed the signing of the Japanese instrument of surrender document firsthand when he went on board the USS Missouri to assist his friend, the ship's official photographer. The 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day is being marked on Friday with a commemorative event organised by the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum. Mr Draper is planning to watch the ceremony on television from his home in Elton, Cheshire. He volunteered for the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday and said the worst part of joining up was having all his teeth removed after a medical examination found he had problems with his gums. He completed his training at the Butlins holiday camp in Skegness and was sent to HMS Ambrose, on a submarine base in Dundee, Scotland, before serving on HMS Duke of York. One of his duties on ship was rationing out the rum for everyone to have an 11am tot. Chiefs and petty officers were served theirs neat, while the rum would be watered down for the rest of the crew, he said. 'I've drunk Navy rum since I've joined up, whenever I could,' Mr Draper said. Asked if that had contributed to his long life, the 100-year-old said: 'Well, that's the only thing I put it down to.' Mr Draper served on HMS Duke of York when it carried out Arctic convoys to deliver supplies to Russia, and in 1945 when it sailed to Sydney, Australia, before joining the East Indies Fleet. He said: 'We started going up to the islands, kicking the Japanese out of the islands as we went.' Japan surrendered on August 15 1945 after the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month. Mr Draper said: 'We didn't hear much about it until it got to the captain.' HMS Duke of York was escorted by two Royal Navy destroyers including HMS Whelp – which Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, served on as first lieutenant. Mr Draper said he had a lasting memory of Philip coming on board when the ship was docked. He said: 'We used to have deck hockey on the quarter deck and it was murder playing deck hockey. 'He knocked me over once and then the next time he came round he hit me, there's still a mark there, he gave me a clout with his hockey stick. 'He came to see me just to see how I was. They just put a stitch in and it was alright.' The pair met again years after the war, when Mr Draper was in the Royal Navy Reserves and training sea cadets in Wirral and Cheshire for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. He said Philip saw his medals and remembered he had been part of the crew which escorted his ship, but there was no mention of the hockey games. Mr Draper turned 21 on the return journey from Japan, with more than 2,000 people on board the ship because they were carrying prisoners of war home. The father-of-two, who went on to work as an insurance salesman, said it took time to adjust back on dry land. He said: 'When we went through the Bay of Biscay at one time it was that rough that the ship's bows would go 24ft up, 24ft down, just like that. 'You get used to it. Especially if you're in your hammock, it rocks you to sleep. 'One of the most comfortable sleeps I've had is in a hammock!'
