HC Deb 15 February 1988 vol 127 cc447-8W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of the loss of the bow section of a Trident submarine off the Mull of Galloway on 5 February; what discussions have taken place with the relevant contractors; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

The MOD has informed the company dealing with a shipment due next week of the importance of giving careful attention to the shipping arrangements. In the longer term, recommendations from the inquiries into the recent incident will be taken up, as appropriate.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for the timing and cost of the Trident programme of the loss at sea on 5 February of the bow section of a Trident submarine; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the bow section of a Trident submarine rolled off the deck of the ship transporting it from Glasgow to Barrow-in-Furness on 5 February; whether any casualties were involved; if he will give the precise location of the bow section; at what depth of water it is lying; what steps will be taken to mark the spot; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will order an immediate inquiry into the loss of the how section of a Trident submarine off the Mull of Galloway on 5 February; if there are any penalty clauses in the contract with the fabricator which can be invoked in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what estimate is available to him of the value of the how section of a Trident submarine lost off the Mull of Galloway on 5 February; what attempts will be made to salvage this item and at whose expense; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what is his assessment of the risk of the Trident bow section lost at sea on 5 February falling into the hands of a hostile foreign power; what steps his Department is taking to avert this risk; what resources are being devoted to this task; and if he will make a statement;

(6) what assessment he has made of the risk posed to other sea traffic by (a) the presence off the Mull of Galloway of an unsecured Trident bow section and (b) his Department's attempts to recover it or prevent it falling into unauthorised hands; and if he will make a statement;

(7) what steps his Department has taken to warn (a) fishing vessels and (b) other marine craft of the presence off the Mull of Galloway of an unsecured Trident bow section; whether other vessels will be informed of the precise location of the item; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

The loss of a forward dome structure for a Vanguard class submarine occurred on 5 February off the coast of South Galloway whilst it was being transferred from the Clyde to Barrow on the cargo vessel "Skellig Rock". The item, valued at some £⅓ million, is in a water depth of 55 m.

Later on that same voyage, on 6 February, more sections of Vanguard class submarine structure were lost overboard near Walney Island. These items also valued at some £⅓ million, are in a water depth of 16 m. We have had no notification of any casualties involved in these incidents.

The detailed circumstances of these incidents are the subject of inquiries currently being undertaken by the Shipbuilder (VSEL) and the sub-contractor (Motherwell Bridge Engineering). My Department is represented at these inquiries, which will be additional to the insurers' inquiries. There is a liquidated damages clause in the contract with the fabricators (MBE).

The consequences of these incidents are a matter for the shipbuilder and his sub-contractor to make good. Our present view is that there will be no effect on the overall United Kingdom Trident programme.

Attempts will be made to recover all the lost items; however, no estimate of the expense to the parties concerned of such salvage is available at present. In the meantime, Hydrographer has issued the appropriate warnings to shipping and the coastguard is aware of the incidents. Neither location has been marked, but Motherwell Bridge Engineering has been formally requested to provide picket boat surveillance over the forward dome structure whilst the coastguard is keeping watch over the other items.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department takes to monitor the arrangements for transporting components and prefabricated sections for the Trident submarines; whether any representative of his Department accompanies such cargoes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury

My Department is not required to approve the transport arrangements, as these are the responsibility of the shipbuilder and his sub-contractor.