'Major milestone' achieved in submarine dismantling project
The programme of work will enable around 90% of the submarine's structure and components to be reused or recycled, providing a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective solution for the recycling of the UK's decommissioned nuclear fleet.
The disposal approach was supported by the results of two public consultations in 2012 and 2015 and reflects the DNE's commitment to act as a responsible nuclear operator.
Lessons from Swiftsure will develop the blueprint for the recycling of the remaining decommissioned Pressurised Water Reactor 1 submarines, with high quality steel already recovered from decommissioned submarines being re-purposed into components for future submarines.
READ MORE:
Today's fin removal is part of a truly national endeavour, delivered by the DNE in collaboration with Babcock and Defence Equipment and Support's Defence Recycling & Disposals Team (DRDT).
Sir Chris Gardner KBE, CEO of the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: 'To see the fin of Swiftsure removed is a significant marker of progress in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise's Submarine Dismantling Project. Our colleagues continue to work tirelessly alongside our industry partners in Rosyth to deliver a proven dismantling method using this demonstrator vessel. My thanks go to everyone involved in this ground-breaking work.'
Lorraine Russell, Senior Responsible Owner for the Submarine Disposals Programme, commented: "The Project showcases our commitment to sustainable disposal practices. By recycling materials wherever possible, we're ensuring these vessels that served the nation so well continue to provide value even after decommissioning."
Alistair Hughes, Head of DRDT, said: "This sustainable solution has shown how we can extract the maximum value from surplus assets and improve Defence's supply-chain resilience, whilst ensuring national security and prosperity remains at the core of what we do."
Swiftsure will become the first decommissioned Royal Navy submarine to be dismantled by the end of 2026 (Image: MOD Crown Copyright 2025)
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "This is another fantastic example of how world-leading Scottish expertise plays such a vital role in the UK's defence. Around 25,600 jobs across Scotland are supported by an annual multi-billion pound Ministry of Defence investment - with 200 highly skilled roles in Rosyth involved in the submarine dismantling project.
"National security and environmental responsibility are at the heart of our commitment to act as a responsible nuclear operator - a technology which will play a key role in the UK Royal Navy's submarine fleet keeping us safe for years to come. Just this week as part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) the Prime Minister came to Scotland to announce up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack subs, building on the £15 billion investment set out for the UK's sovereign nuclear warhead programme.
"Scotland has always been at the beating heart of the UK's defence and security and the (SDR) will restore Britain's readiness, deter our adversaries and help drive economic growth across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
23 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Police come under attack for fifth night in Northern Ireland
Petrol bombs were thrown at riot police deployed in Portadown on Friday night after a senior officer said there would be 'scaled up' policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. The unrest and riotous behaviour spread to other towns including Larne, Belfast and Coleraine. A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation. The focus of the violence shifted to Portadown on Thursday and continued on Friday – although at a lower intensity than scenes observed earlier in the week. Sixty-three police officers have been injured in the sustained disorder which led political leaders to call for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland' with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how cooperation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder in Portadown. There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. It is being treated by police as arson with a racially motivated hate element. Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the Co Armagh town on Thursday. A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown. There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack. A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards. Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured. Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been 'a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities'. 'Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable,' he said. 'Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order. 'They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community. 'They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives.' Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind the disorder. He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
Rhyl Journal
23 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
MSP ‘overwhelmed' to become MBE
Pam Duncan-Glancy is recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for years of public and political service. Speaking to the PA news agency, the Labour Glasgow MSP – the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to the Scottish Parliament and a tireless disability campaigner – said she had learned about the honour in a text from her husband after she had received an email about it. 'I was overwhelmed, to be honest, and could hardly believe what I was reading,' she said. 'I'm really, really proud to have been given this honour for the work that I've done in the community and for disability rights. 'It's a real honour to do this. 'When I got elected as an MSP, I said I was a wee working class woman in a wheelchair. To think that I could be a wee working class woman in a wheelchair who's also got an MBE, I just thought that was pretty special.' While receiving such an honour from the Palace requires discretion, Ms Duncan-Glancy admitted she struggled keeping it all a secret. 'I told my sister, obviously my husband knows and I told my team and a couple of friends, but it was really difficult to keep it quiet,' she said. With just 11 months until the next Holyrood election, the MSP said there is 'loads more' the Scottish Parliament and politics more widely has to do for more disabled people to seek election. 'We need to support people to be active in their communities in the first place,' she said. 'For disabled people, it can often be about giving them help to get out of bed in the morning. 'There's quite a mountain to climb for us to support disabled people to get into politics and it's a mountain we absolutely have to climb, because there should be no space about us, without us. 'We need to do everything we possibly can to get more representation of disabled people, not just in Parliament or councils, but everywhere.' Elected in 2021, Ms Duncan-Glancy has impressed in her first term as an MSP, being given a spot on the Scottish Labour frontbench before even making it to Holyrood, when she was appointed social security spokeswoman by leader Anas Sarwar in the early weeks of his tenure. Before entering politics, she worked in communications for the NHS and campaigned for the rights of disabled people.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Parents of aid worker killed in Afghanistan dedicate honour to women there
John and Lorna Norgrove said they were honoured and surprised to be recognised in the King's Birthday Honours. The couple were both made OBEs for services to women and children abroad and in Scotland. They set up the Linda Norgrove Foundation in memory of their daughter Linda, an aid worker who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan and died in an attempted rescue by US forces in October 2010. The foundation gives grants to fund education, health and childcare for women and children in Afghanistan. The couple said: 'We are honoured to have received this recognition of the work being carried out by the Linda Norgrove Foundation. 'We are a tiny charity, mostly volunteers, who all share the same goal – to make life better for women and children in Afghanistan. 'Having put a lot of effort into sponsoring women to study medicine in Afghanistan, we were heartbroken when the Taliban stopped them from attending university. 'We were privileged to have the chance to bring some of them here to Scotland last year to continue their studies at Scottish universities. 'We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to leave their homes and families behind to move abroad and continue their studies and careers. Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.' Mrs Norgrove said news of the OBE came as a 'big surprise'. The foundation worked with both the Scottish and UK governments to bring 19 female Afghan medical students to Scotland last year to continue their degrees as they were barred by the Taliban from completing their university studies in Afghanistan. The couple said the charity was set up to help Afghan women and children in their own country and they now plan to focus on that rather than bringing more of them to the UK. They hope the honour will raise awareness about the work the foundation is doing in Afghanistan, where girls and women are living under severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Mrs Norgrove said: 'Women have been prevented from working, prevented from having education, they're prevented from going out. 'And the loss of jobs is having a severe effect on family life and how they're managing to cope on an everyday basis.' The couple, who live on the isle of Lewis, said their daughter would have been pleased to know they are carrying on the work that she was doing. Mrs Norgrove said: 'Linda was very, very much for women's rights, and for looking after women, for giving them jobs – anything to do with women and children, she was all for it. 'She would be absolutely delighted that we've been able to help in the way that we have.' Mr Norgrove added: 'She was all for women's education. She particularly thought that you don't only educate a woman, but you also ensure a different life for the woman's children as well, you know? So she thought that was the future.'
