Work Continues On Dismantling Of U.K. Nuclear Submarine

Babcock has awarded Veolia a recycling contract as work continues to dismantle the first of the U.K.'s decommissioned nuclear submarines, HMS Swiftsure.

The shipbuilding giant is working with Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) to fully dismantle the vessel at its facility in Rosyth, just north of Edinburgh in Scotland.

The aim is to reuse or recycle around nine-tenths of the submarine's structure, including the hull housing the reactor. Work on the Swiftsure is being used as a flagship learning exercise which will inform the process for all future decommissioning works under the U.K. MoD's Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP), delivered by the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA).

The U.K. will eventually have a total of 27 decommissioned nuclear submarines, 22 of which have already left service. Seven are stored at Rosyth, and the other 15 are at Devonport Royal Dockyard, Plymouth, England.

As per a recent Babcock press release, the firm has awarded the recycling contract to KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK Ltd (KDCV). The Swiftsure's reactor systems and low-level radioactive waste (LLW) have already been removed and processed for removal from site via Rosyth’s state-of-the-art active waste management facility.

At present the programme remains on schedule to see Swiftsure fully dismantled by 2026. In addition, most LLW has already been removed from three further decommissioned subs, the Resolution, the Revenge and the Repulse.

Harry Holt, Chief Executive of Babcock's Nuclear Sector, said: “This is a world first. We are bringing together our experience of supporting the entire U.K. submarine fleet, our nuclear expertise and our ability to bring the best of industry together on this programme to spearhead the approach for the safe disposal of all ex-service nuclear submarines.”

Veolia’s John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer – Industrial, Water & Energy for UK, Ireland and Nordics, said, “Working with the Ministry of Defence and Babcock on this unique and complex project will mark a new sustainable way of decommissioning and recycling this type of vessel. By using Veolia’s global skills, we will deliver this world-first project as part of our GreenUp strategic programme designed to depollute, decarbonise and preserve resources.”

• You can read more details on the Babcock website and on the U.K. Government's SDP web page