Latest news with #GareLoch
Sky News
2 days ago
- General
- Sky News
MoD urged to reveal details of nuclear incident at Faslane
The Ministry of Defence is being urged to reveal details of a nuclear incident that took place at Faslane naval base earlier this year. Figures show that a Category A event occurred at HMNB Clyde between 1 January and 22 April. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) defines Category A as the most serious; however, it has claimed the incident was categorised as of "low safety significance" and did not pose a risk to the public or result in any radiological impact to the environment. HMNB Clyde is based on the banks of Gare Loch at Faslane in Argyll and Bute. It is the Royal Navy's headquarters in Scotland and is home to Britain's nuclear submarines, which includes the Vanguard vessels armed with Trident missiles. Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) detail incidents at nuclear facilities and are classified based on their safety significance and impact. Responding to a written question earlier this year by SNP MP Dave Doogan, Maria Eagle, minister for defence procurement and industry, confirmed dozens of incidents at Faslane and nearby RNAD Coulport - the storage and loading facility for the Trident programme. Nuclear site events (22 April 2024 to 22 April 2025): • Coulport: 13 Category C and 34 Category D • Faslane: 1 Category A, 5 Category B, 29 Category C, and 71 Category D Ms Eagle stated she could not provide specific details of the Category A or B incidents "as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces". She assured Mr Doogan that "none of the events caused harm to the health of any member of staff or to any member of the public and none have resulted in any radiological impact to the environment". However, in the past week, concerns have been reignited over the environmental and public health impact of the UK's nuclear weapons programme. It comes following an investigation by The Guardian and The Ferret, which uncovered radioactive water from RNAD Coulport had leaked into Loch Long due to faulty old pipes back in 2019. The secrecy battle went on for six years. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reported the discharges were "of no regulatory concern", while the MoD said there had been "no unsafe releases of radioactive material" into the environment. In response to the "catalogue of failures", the SNP's deputy leader is calling for an "urgent explanation" from the UK government as to what actually happened at Faslane. MSP Keith Brown said: "Nuclear weapons are an ever-present danger and this new information is deeply worrying. "With repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane and now confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Long, it's clear these weapons are not only poorly maintained but are a direct threat to our environment, our communities, and our safety. "Worse still, the Labour government is refusing to provide any details about the Category A incident." The MoD said it was unable to disclose the details of the incidents reported for "national security reasons", however all were said to be categorised as of "low safety significance". A spokesperson for the MoD said: "We place the upmost importance on handling radioactive substances safely and securely. "Nuclear Site Event Reports demonstrate our robust safety culture and commitment to learn from experience. "The incidents posed no risk to the public and did not result in any radiological impact to the environment. It is factually incorrect to suggest otherwise.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Serious nuclear incident occurs at Faslane Navy base that's ‘deeply worrying'
A SERIOUS nuclear incident took place at Scotland's Faslane naval base earlier this year. Figures show there was a Category A event at HMNB Clyde on Gare Loch in the period between January 1 and April 22. 3 3 It is the second serious incident in the space of two years, with another recorded back in 2023, The Herald reports. Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) are graded from Category A, the most serious, through to D. The Ministry of Defence defines a Category A incident as an "actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment". Faslane is home to all of the Royal Navy's submarines including the Vanguard class armed with Trident missiles. Its fleet also includes nuclear-powered Astute class attack vessels. Incidents, inspections and regulatory activities at the naval base are recorded by the MoD. And figures released show there was a Category A incident at the Scots base. However, it is unknown whether radiation was leaked into the environment or if there was a high risk of that happening. It is the second serious incident in the space of two years. There had not been a Category A incident at Faslane since 2008. Incredible moment a Royal Navy warship destroys a supersonic missile off Scots coast It comes after it was revealed that radioactive water was released from the Royal Navy nuclear weapons base in Coulport into Loch Long. The material was released into the loch after the Navy failed to maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes. SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown MSP told The Herald: "Nuclear weapons are an ever-present danger and this new information is deeply worrying. "With repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane and now confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Long, it's clear there is a direct threat to our environment, our communities, and our safety. "Worse still, the Labour government is refusing to provide any details about the Category A incident, or the full extent of the contamination, including who could potentially be affected. "While Westminster ploughs billions of public money into weapons of mass destruction, the SNP is focused on building a better Scotland. "But only with independence, can we scrap Trident, clean up the mess it has left behind, and ensure this kind of reckless nuclear policy is never forced on Scotland again." The Ministry of Defence has been approached for comment. 3
Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
‘Serious nuclear incident' took place at Navy base, MoD admits
A serious nuclear incident took place at the Faslane naval base in Scotland earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has admitted. A 'category A' event took place at HMNB Clyde, on Gare Loch, between January and April. Category A events are defined as those which carry 'actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment'. The revelation will raise serious concerns about how the Trident nuclear submarines in Scotland are being maintained. It is also likely to prompt questions over transparency and why the incident was not known about until now. HMNB Clyde houses every Royal Navy submarine, including the Vanguard class vessels which are armed with Trident missiles.
