The UK’s independent spending watchdog has criticised the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its failure to dispose of any of the 20 nuclear-powered submarines decommissioned from Royal Navy (RN) service since 1980.
All four decommissioned Resolution-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines seen laid up at Rosyth in 2016. A total of 20 ex-RN boats are awaiting dismantling. (Richard Scott/NAVYPIX)
In a report published on 3 April, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the costs of afloat storage of the laid up boats had now reached an estimated GBP500 million (USD654 million). It also revealed that delays to a new defuelling facility at Devonport means that that nine decommissioned submarines still contain irradiated fuel, and that defuelling will not re-start for at least another four years.
In 1995, the UK government committed to disposing of decommissioned submarines “as soon as reasonably practicable”. However, a pilot dismantling project for a first boat – ex- Swiftsure – only began in 2016, with a second submarine – ex- Resolution – starting dismantling in late 2018.
The NAO suggests that a single submarine will cost almost GBP100 million to dismantle.
Moreover, the NAO found that the MoD does not yet have a fully funded process to remove, transport, and store all types of radioactive parts. “The dismantling project has been delayed by 15 years, with the whole-life cost increasing by GBP0.8 billion,” it said, adding that the MoD’s latest planning estimate – still to be approved – will not roll-out its dismantling approach until 2026.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
