Submarine safety lacking

Published on Tuesday 17 February 2009 20:58

We are bombarded with comments about how superior and safe our submarine fleet is. In view of the collision in the north Atlantic (your report, 17 February), I have been doing some research, with surprising results.

The UK, with 15 submarines and four accidents in the past nine years, has had 27 per cent of its submarines involved in accidents. The US, with 71 submarines and seven accidents in the past nine years, has had 10 per cent of its submarines involved in accidents. Russia, with 76 submarines and five accidents in the past 9 years, has had 7 per cent of its submarines involved in accidents.

From this, it is quite clear that the Royal Navy's safe navigation record is worryingly inadequate for a service that is trusted with the transportation and delivery of highly dangerous nuclear materials.

JOHN HEIN

Montgomery Street

Edinburgh

In your report on the collision of two nuclear submarines, you ask, "How could they collide in 41 million sq miles of sea?" Since the Atlantic is three-dimensional and the submarines "could" have had differing depths as well as latitudes and longitudes, the collision is all the more surprising and the question should be "How could they collide in 85 million cubic miles of sea?"

I would suggest that if the submarines set off blindly into the north Atlantic from two different points, the chances of them colliding are about the same as two blind tadpoles making acquaintance in Loch Ness.

JIM McGOLDRICK

Old Star Road

Edinburgh