A ferry heading to Scotland had to avoid a nuclear submarine, an official probe has heard.
The Royal Navy’s Faslane-based sub, which has not been named, was on a training exercise.
The Stena Superfast ferry had 215 passengers and 67 crew for the scheduled crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan, Wigtownshire, on November 6, 2018.
At 12.56pm, a ferry officer had to take action to avoid hitting the sub, which had been spotted at close range ahead. The sub was at periscope depth.
The sub’s command team had detected and tracked the ferry. As the ferry got closer, the sub’s officer of the watch altered course to avoid it.
The Stena Superfast VII ferry "took immediate action to avoid a collision" after spotting the submarine's periscope nearby.
Ferry passengers and the crew on both vessels were placed "in immediate danger" the report found.
The report said: "This incident happened because the submarine's control room team overestimated the ferry's range and underestimated its speed.
"This combination meant that the submarine's commanding officer and its officer of the watch made safety-critical decisions that might have appeared rational to them at the time but were actually based on inaccurate information."
Following the incident, the master of the ferry notified the coastguard, saying the submarine's periscope had passed down the starboard side of the vessel at a range of 50-100 metres.
The report said: "During safety training in the North Channel, the command team of a submerged submarine did not take sufficient action to prevent the ferry, Stena Superfast VII, passing inside its go-deep range.
"This was an unsafe event and placed the ferry's passengers and crew, as well as the submarine and its crew, in immediate danger."
It said the ferry's OOW showed "great presence of mind and strong conviction" in altering course to port to avoid a collision, and warned that "without this alteration, there was a serious risk of collision".
Andrew Moll, chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said: ‘Although there was no collision, this was the third accident or incident between a dived Royal Navy submarine and a surface vessel in 4 years, which is a matter of significant concern.
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Source: Daily Record, Daily Mail, Pexels
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The Royal Navy’s Faslane-based sub, which has not been named, was on a training exercise.
The Stena Superfast ferry had 215 passengers and 67 crew for the scheduled crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan, Wigtownshire, on November 6, 2018.
At 12.56pm, a ferry officer had to take action to avoid hitting the sub, which had been spotted at close range ahead. The sub was at periscope depth.
The sub’s command team had detected and tracked the ferry. As the ferry got closer, the sub’s officer of the watch altered course to avoid it.
Its inquiry found that the speed of the ferry – 21 knots – and its distance away were disastrously misjudged by the crew of the nuclear-powered submarine, which was travelling at six knots.
However, this turn was towards the ferry, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report said.
Until avoiding action was taken by the ferry’s officer, “there was a serious risk of collision”, it said.
The two vessels came within 50-100 metres of each other in the incident.
However, this turn was towards the ferry, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report said.
Until avoiding action was taken by the ferry’s officer, “there was a serious risk of collision”, it said.
The two vessels came within 50-100 metres of each other in the incident.
The Stena Superfast VII ferry "took immediate action to avoid a collision" after spotting the submarine's periscope nearby.
Ferry passengers and the crew on both vessels were placed "in immediate danger" the report found.
The report said: "This incident happened because the submarine's control room team overestimated the ferry's range and underestimated its speed.
"This combination meant that the submarine's commanding officer and its officer of the watch made safety-critical decisions that might have appeared rational to them at the time but were actually based on inaccurate information."
Following the incident, the master of the ferry notified the coastguard, saying the submarine's periscope had passed down the starboard side of the vessel at a range of 50-100 metres.
The report said: "During safety training in the North Channel, the command team of a submerged submarine did not take sufficient action to prevent the ferry, Stena Superfast VII, passing inside its go-deep range.
"This was an unsafe event and placed the ferry's passengers and crew, as well as the submarine and its crew, in immediate danger."
It said the ferry's OOW showed "great presence of mind and strong conviction" in altering course to port to avoid a collision, and warned that "without this alteration, there was a serious risk of collision".
Andrew Moll, chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said: ‘Although there was no collision, this was the third accident or incident between a dived Royal Navy submarine and a surface vessel in 4 years, which is a matter of significant concern.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: "Ensuring safety at sea is a top priority for the Royal Navy, which is why we welcome this report and have already taken action to tighten our training and procedures."
The Royal Navy said there were no nuclear safety issues during the incident.
The Royal Navy said there were no nuclear safety issues during the incident.
Source: Daily Record, Daily Mail, Pexels
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