Navy to review submarine incidents

Navy to review submarine incidents

6 January 2016

THE Royal Navy is to speed up the process to confirm if any of its submarines are involved in incidents with fishing vessels.

The news comes after the Ministry of Defence took several months to confirm that one of its submarines was responsible for a terrifying incident in the Irish Sea last April involving an Ardglass prawn trawler, which was almost pulled under water by a Royal Navy sub. 

The MV Karen was fishing near the Isle of Man when it was dragged violently backwards at speed after snagging its nets, with only the quick-thinking actions of of skipper Paul Murphy saving the lives of his crew.

At the time, Ministry of Defence officials claimed none of its submarines were within 150 miles of the incident, but finally admitted last September that a Royal Navy vessel was involved. 

The Navy confirmed after “reviewing” information available to it about the incident, that one of its submarines was responsible and the Ardglass trawler had not been “correctly identified.”

This week, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has been told by Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt that “there should be no delay in verifying whether a Royal Navy submarine is involved in such incidents, regardless of the kind of submarine it was and the operation or activity it was conducting.”

Miss Ritchie has had several meetings and direct representations with the Armed Forces Minister 

regarding the need to find what she described as an “adequate and suitable resolution” for the fishing industry in the Irish Sea to ensure vessels will not encounter further impediments or obstacles from submarines which could interfere with fishing effort.

“The British government initially indicated that the submarine involved in the incident with the Karen was not one of theirs, but it was subsequently discovered this was not the case. Early last September, the Royal Navy issued issued an apology to the owner of the Ardglass vessel and stated that compensation for the damage done to the boat would be forthcoming,” she continued.

“Following the most recent representations to Minister Mordaunt to clarify what further action the British Government, and in particular, the Ministry of Defence will take to prevent such incidences in the future, I have been told by the Minister that changes have been made to operational issues for the Royal Navy in the Irish Sea.”

Miss Ritchie explained the changes which have been made relate to the instructions given to commanding officers. She also confirmed when the specific circumstances of the Karen incident became known, “revised guidance was issued immediately.”

Miss Ritchie continued: “According Minister Mordaunt, the process by which a vessel is classified has been reinforced, using even stricter criteria to prevent incorrect assumptions being made by the submarine.  

“If a vessel’s identification cannot be definitively established, the Commanding Officer must assume that it is a fishing vessel with nets in the water and behave accordingly. This instruction now informs the training given to future Commanding Officers.”

Miss Ritchie said Ms Mordaunt has also confirmed the Royal Navy’s reporting procedures have been reviewed to enable it to confirm more quickly whether a UK submarine is involved in such incidents. 

In her reply Miss Ritchie, Ms Mordaunt stated: “For operational reasons, if we cannot confirm quickly that it was not us, we will assume that it was. There should be no delay in verifying whether a Royal Navy submarine was involved, regardless of the kind of submarine it was and the operation or activity it was conducting.”