At approximately 1330 local time, HMS AMBUSH, an Astute-class submarine, while submerged and conducting a training exercise was involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar. We are in contact with the merchant vessel and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage.
The submarine suffered some external damage but there is absolutely no damage to her nuclear plant and no member of the ship’s company was injured in the incident.
Image Credits: wikimedia.org
An immediate investigation is being conducted.
The submarine will be entering Gibraltar later this evening for further checks. There are no safety concerns associated with HMS AMBUSH being alongside.
Reference: gov.uk
hank says
Amazing…. they can locate Russian subs 100 kilometers away but locate a merchant ship in their immediate vicinity.
David E langton says
Merchant seamen are a forgotten service ,yet they are the workhorses of Life , you never see any merchant ships at work ,never hear of merchant sea men and the perilous work .I was at sea ,my father and his father .it’s a job not many land lubbers know .
Anil saxena says
It is very uncanny for such an incident to take place as subs. Have very sophisticated equipment unless there was some major failure & was left NUC.