- UK submarine made a glancing collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar
- Ambush suffered external damage.
- Merchant vessel in question had not sustained any damage.
A British sub collided with a tanker off the coast of Gibraltar on Wednesday while performing a training exercise, when it surfaced at around 1.30 p.m. local time it hit the tanker, the Royal Navy said in a statement.
As HMS Ambush docked in Gibraltar just after 9pm, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy insisted there was “absolutely no damage” to the submarine’s nuclear plant and that no one in the crew had been injured.
Early indications were that the merchant vessel in question had not sustained any damage.
Further checks
“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.”
Further checks would be carried out but there are no safety concerns, said the Navy.
Photographs of HMS Ambush arriving in Gibraltar appear to show damage to the front section of its conning tower.
The submarine is reported to be a regular visitor to Gibraltar, having last stopped in the territory in June and March.
“An immediate investigation is being conducted.”
“There are no safety concerns associated with HMS Ambush being alongside.”
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Sources & References: Gibraltar Chronicle, BBC
