EW safety measures following a “close-proximity incident” between a nuclear submarine and an Irish Sea ferry were demanded by campaigners today. The incident happened in November when a Royal Navy nuclear submarine moving at periscope depth was sighted from the ferry Stena Superfast VII. The ferry runs from Cairnryan to Belfast, with a capacity of 1,300 passengers and 660 vehicles. The Manchester-based Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) group, which is opposed to nuclear weapons and power, has now written to the UK Marine Accident Incident Branch (MAIB) and the International Maritime Organisation calling for “additional protocols addressing nuclear submarine interactions with larger commercial vessels.” NFLA all-Ireland forum co-chairman Mark Dearey said: “I call on the MAIB to consider carefully the incident and make recommendations to prevent such near misses happening again.
Morning Star 28th Jan 2019 read more »