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Nuclear subs 'face personnel shortages'
21 August 2012
An MoD risk register report, released to the Nuclear Information Service following a freedom of information request, reveals that "there is a risk that the RN will not have sufficient suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) to be able to support the manning requirement of the submarine fleet".
Proposals to remedy this include implementing a Sustainable Submarine Manning Project aimed at improving the "quality of life" of submariners and increasing recruitment.
The report, from the MoD's Defence Nuclear Executive Board, also highlights a potential shortage of engineers with technical nuclear skills to support nuclear deterrent submarines.
"Inability to recruit, retain, and develop sufficient nuclear and submarine design qualified and personnel will result in an inability to support Defence Nuclear Programme", the report says, citing the availability of civil nuclear jobs as a major risk factor.
The risks are also a result of a "national and global nuclear engineering shortage" and the decision to base all of the UK's nuclear weapons at HM Naval Base Clyde, in Scotland.
The ability of the UK's defence industrial base is also brought into question, with concerns about the "erosion of manufacturing capability, cost growth, time delay, and poor performance of contractors". The possibility of cost over are greater than those in the Dec 06 White Paper" which outlined the government's plans to replace Trident.
Concerns about the reputation of the MoD as a 'responsible nuclear operator' have also led to the creation of a "Nuclear Reputation Steering Group" which oversees the Nuclear Reputation Strategy.
Peter Burt, Director of Nuclear Information Service said the concerns listed in the report "highlight the fact that there are major pitfalls ahead and that Trident replacement is far from a foregone conclusion.
"How effective we are at mastering these risks will determine whether Britain can remain in the nuclear weapons business," he said. "The worst possible outcome would be for the next government to commit to going ahead with Trident replacement, but then fail to fully deliver the programme because of an inability to manage the significant risks entailed".
A Royal Navy spokesman said: "This report recognises that the Royal Navy has sufficient manpower for its submarines and we are confident that this will remain the case.
"To ensure that the Royal Navy continues its excellent nuclear safety record, we review the nuclear propulsion programme to identify and manage any possible future risks; this report is part of that process."
HAVE YOUR SAY
21 August 2012
When Brown/Blair sold Westinghouse to the Japanese that has to rank as one of the biggest acts of industrial vandalism in UK history.
The UK needs a civilian nuclear program, by that I mean there is a UK owned company in the business of designing and building civil nuclear reactors. I don't mean contracting French/German/Japanese companies to build their reactors in the UK, which is what is happening now.
That will probably mean some element of state ownership as the private sector time and time again has shown it is incapable of making long term large capital investments without the government taking a lead. In fact with the UK government stake in Westinghouse that is what we had!
Part of being an independent nuclear power means there is an indigenous civil nuclear industry. I am afraid ever since Margaret Thatcher took a hatchet to the British nuclear program (and much else of merit in the UK where engineering was concerned) we have been subservient to other nations for our nuclear know how and engineering expertise. This follows through to the military side of nuclear matters as we are now seeing.
I would have thought a large scale UK government funded civil nuclear program (with private sector involvement if they can be bothered) is just the sort of genuine stimulus the UK economy needs, as opposed to house building for the fictional housing shortage and QE subsidies to the spiv city boys. But there again, that flies in the face of 30 years of civil service outsourcing and free market paradigm, so it is unlikely to happen. Government intervention and subsidy in itself are not wrong, it just needs to be done right, see France for details. France is still a global player in all the key strategic industries, whilst the UK has ceased to be so. It can be done, it just takes political courage and far sightedness.
We won't get that from Labour or Dave (with what's his face), so time for Bo Jo to step up to the plate and shake things up a bit!
Martin Bayliss - Stroud
21 August 2012
Despite the comments from the Royal Navy's PR officer, it's interesting to note that a consistent theme in reports from the Defence Nuclear Safety and Environment Board over recent years has been concerns over shortages of suitably qualified and experienced nuclear personnel - a problem which is getting worse, not better.
Martin - Berkshire, UK
21 August 2012
Increasingly lengthy deployments away from home, often a year in length. The struggle to maintain equipment with a massive lack of logistics. The apparent lack of respect for Submariners from the top brass and being constantly told that if we don't like it, leave. Being told that all Submarines are to be based in Scotland, again if we don't like it leave. Well we are!!!! A serving Submarine Warrant Officer.
Serving Warrant Officer - RN Plymouth
21 August 2012
Is this really an issue, or is it just newspapers stirring up mischief? Comment from anyone in the know welcome ;-)
Jake - Aldershot
22 August 2012
decrease platform numbers + maintain/increase commitments = p**sed off sailors, hardly rocket science!
H Nelson - Portsmouth
22 August 2012
The utter stupidity of the SDSR and of Cameron and Osbourne becomes more and more apparent.
Ian Skinner - Enfield