'Serious nuclear incident' at Faslane submarine base deemed 'Category A' threat
A "serious nuclear incident" took place at HM Naval Base Clyde earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence has admitted.
The incident, which has been deemed as "category A", took place at Faslane between January 1 and April 22, 2025.
HMNB Clyde is home to the Royal Navy's submarines, which includes the Vanguard class that are armed with Trident missiles as well as the nuclear-powered Astue class hunter vessels.
The Ministry of Defence records incidents, inspections as well as regulatory activities.
The Nuclear Site Event Reports are then given a grade on a scale from Category A down to D to "below scale" that does not meet any of the categories.
Category A is listed as the most serious, and being one that carried "actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment."
It's currently unclear whether radiation was leaked into the environment or if it was a high risk of happening, reports the Helensburgh Advertiser.
It comes after a series of reported leaks from two nuclear bases - Coulport and Faslane - into Loch Long in Argyll and Bute.
A probe by The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) found that the Royal Navy had failed to properly maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes on the base.
Sepa said the problems at Coulport - going back to a pipe burst in 2010 - were caused by "shortfalls in maintenance".
One incident in August 2019 led to the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" - low levels of tritium, a radioactive element used in nuclear warheads.
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