Offshore turbines ‘will pose a threat to nuclear subs fleet’

Published on Monday 6 February 2012 00:00

DEFENCE chiefs have warned that Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet could be under threat from plans to erect hundreds of wind farms off the west coast of Scotland.

They say the developments could hamper access to the Trident base on the Clyde and increase the risk of subs running aground or colliding with other vessels.

Reports yesterday quoted a senior defence source as saying: “There is no doubt that these fields would be an additional hazard to shipping. The rotating blades of turbines distort sonar images and impede visibility.”

Faslane is the base for four nuclear submarines and Trident warheads are held in a facility at nearby Coulport.

Submarines access the bases via the outer Firth of Clyde, which has been earmarked for offshore wind-farm development by the Scottish Government.

The MoD source added: “Placing a 70m-high obstacle in the path of any traffic, military or not, could lead to the limitation of otherwise navigable waters.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said all initial search areas will be subject to further analysis by Marine Scotland.

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12

nabodican

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:40 AM

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11

Ron Greer

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 05:25 PM

10 Broon Bairn---that's cheatin man, it'll look as if it's actually working!

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10

Broon Bairn

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:53 PM

10. Or a nuclear-powered windmill?

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9

Ron Greer

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:09 PM

How about wind -powered submarines then?

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8

samcoldstream

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:15 PM

The Royal Navy is always telling us that its vessels are now equipped with the most sophisticated radar and sonar equipment ever invented? Yet, they cannot navigate around a few hypothetical marine turbines? Mind you, in 2010 the Royal Navy's newest and largest attack nuclear submarine ran aground on routine sea trials. The embarrassing incident happened when the £1 billion HMS Astute, designed to be virtually invisible to its enemy navies, became a tourist attraction of the Isle of Skye where it struck rocks near the Skye Bridge. The "whole of Skye" enjoyed gloating at the Royal Navy's expense. Hundreds of locals and tourists took pictures of the top secret submarine causing even more red faces at the Admiralty. The rocks and sandbank on which the submarine foundered are well known to local fishermen who pointed out to journalists that these hazards are clearly identified on Admiralty charts. (Source: London Evening Standard)

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7

Broon Bairn

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:04 AM

Surely the correct headline should read "Nuclear subs pose a threat to offshore turbines" ?

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6

Ron Greer

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 08:44 AM

There's a great headline here for a future anti SNP feature in the BritzNatzman-----'SNP accused of trying to get rid of Trident by building windfarms'

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5

Ron Greer

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 08:42 AM

So windfarms are an anti-submarine defence net then? Maybe they will do better at that than producing worthwhile amounts of electricity in a predictable manner.

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4

SlyFifer

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 07:33 AM

Bull of the sheet. Underwater obstacles will be charted and there for all mariners to see, just like rocks (italian cruise ships take note), sunken vessels and any other immovable detritous lying about. Please don't take people for fools.

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3

nabodican

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 07:32 AM

The turbines as well as being a con are a hazard to all shipping, If I were a submarine commander I would indulge in a bit torpedo practice.

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2

jerrymanders

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:39 AM

#1 Or, even better, if they got rid of the subs - what a saving!

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1

Beachdair

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:39 AM

Defence chiefs would be doing Scotland a favour if they manage to get rid of those non-cost-effective offshore windfarms.

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