Anti-nuke group opposes British ship visit

An anti-nuclear pressure group has urged that the ageing British submarine HMS Sceptre, scheduled to visit Simon's Town next month, be kept out of South African waters.

CONNING ARTISTS: Ntombizanele Mohloboli, atop the submarine SAS Charlotte Maxeke. Pic: Alon Sky. 14/11/2008. ? The Times

Chairman of Koeberg Alert Alliance Peter Becker said on Monday his organisation noted "with alarm" the history of the nuclear-powered vessel.

This included a collision in the 1980s which the Royal Navy apparently lied to the public about, a coolant leak in 1990, an on-board fire in 1991, a defect in the reactor discovered in 1998, and a drydock accident in 2000.

After the 2000 accident, he said, it was recommended that the vessel be scrapped.

"Subsequently the vessel was brought back into service, required further repairs in 2005 in Gibraltar, and is planned to be decommissioned in 2010," he said.

"If the National Nuclear Regulator [NNR] requires several kilometres as a safety exclusion zone for the Koeberg nuclear power station, how come this ageing nuclear-powered vessel is allowed to dock within a few hundred metres of a residential area?"

The South African Navy, acting on behalf of its British counterpart, has applied to the NNR for permission for the sub to enter Simon's Town from March 18 to 29.

The NNR has in turn invited objections from organisations and individuals.

In a submission sent to the NNR last week, the alliance said the regulatory body would be failing in its duties if it allowed the Sceptre to enter South African waters.

SONAR SYSTEMS

Royal Navy commander admits crashing nuclear submarine

A Royal Navy commander has admitted crashing a nuclear submarine into the bottom of the Red Sea.

HMS Superb Photo: PA

Commander Steven Drysdale was forced to bring HMS Superb to the surface after it hit rocks 80 miles south of Suez on May 26, 2008.

The grounding damaged the bow and sonar equipment on the 272ft vessel, which is capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Cmdr Drysdale, from Miskin, near Cardiff, admitted failing to ensure the safe direction of the Swiftsure class hunterkiller submarine.

Lieutenant Commander Andrew Cutler and Lieutenant Lee Blair, who were also on-board, also admitted failures in their duty at the hearing at HMS Nelson court martial centre at Portsmouth Naval Base, Hants.

Lt Cmdr Cutler pleaded guilty to failing to supervise the plot officer adequately.

BAE let off lightly: activists

The first Astute class nuclear submarine is rolled out at the BAE Systems production plant in Cumbria, England. File Photo: AP 

Britain’s biggest arms company, the BAE Systems, which had been at the centre of a long-running worldwide bribery scandal is to pay £286 million in fines to British and American authorities after being forced to admit criminal charges following a nearly eight-year-long trans-Atlantic investigation into its arms deals with Saudi Arabia, Tanzania and several central European countries.

The deal, which will see an end to further investigations into allegations of corruption, provoked fury among anti-arms trade activists who argued that the company had been let off lightly by being allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of accounting irregularities rather than corruption.

“Ultimately the charges that we see admitted are administrative charges, not charges of corruption,” said Norman Lamb, a senior Liberal Democrat MP, who led a campaign.

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade said it was “outraged and angry” that the BAE had got away with a “tiny” fine.

Cumbrian firm wins Australian Navy contract

A company based in Cumbria has been awarded a contract by the Australian Navy to supply LED lighting for its Collins Class submarine.

Oxley Developments said the £270,000 deal helps to boost its expansion strategy, providing lighting systems in the marine environment.

Its products will be used in various compartments within the submarine, including the living quarters and the weapons area.

A total of 12 different types of lighting will be used, replacing existing fluorescent lamps and providing robust and reliable illumination.