HC Deb 25 April 1955 vol 540 cc37-8W
Dr. Bennett

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what disciplinary action has been taken in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" in respect of the large escape of fuel oil from her recently; and how so large an escape was able to take place unperceived from on board.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

The escape of oil fuel from H.M.S. "Ark Royal" was due to an unknown defect which was only made evident by the leakage of oil on 23rd March. It was caused by a fault below the waterline in a furnace oil fuel service tank. It was not the result of pumping out bilges or sullage tanks.

Such a leak would only become apparent when the level of fuel in the tank was greater than the water level outside the ship. On the day in question conditions were abnormal in that the ship was in light condition and there was a strong tide and high wind which gave the ship a list of about 1½° and brought the faulty oil tank three feet higher than when the ship was on an even keel.

The escape of oil was first noticed by the duty officer on deck at 9.30 a.m., but owing to the wind and tide the oil was breaking surface astern and to port of the ship where the full extent of the leakage was not readily observable. The leakage stopped after approximately half an hour. Steps were immediately taken to prevent a recurrence of the conditions causing the leakage until the fault in the tank could be repaired.

It has not been possible to establish exactly when the leak started, but it is thought that it was between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. when the ship's personnel began to top up the service tanks. The leak would have started when the level of oil in the tank began to rise above sea level. Nor has it been possible to determine the exact quantity of oil involved. No abnormal consumption was observed in the ship but the best, though very approximate, estimate suggests that the amount was between 1 and 2 tons. The effects of this small amount of oil were magnified by the combined effect of the gale and the unusually high tide which produced a wider distribution of the oil than would have occurred in normal weather conditions.

I do not consider that any question of disciplinary action arises. I would again express my regret at what happened and at the inconvenience caused but the incident could not have been foreseen and could happen in any oil-fired ship of similar design.