The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that dismantling work on the decommissioned Royal Navy submarine HMS Swiftsure is continuing to make progress at Rosyth, with nearly 550 tonnes of conventional waste now removed and recycled, according to Defence Minister Luke Pollard.
In a written response to Ben Obese-Jecty MP, Pollard said that “90% of her total weight [is] expected to be recycled in due course.”
He added that the ongoing work provides “a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective solution for the recycling of the UK’s decommissioned nuclear fleet” and supports 200 highly skilled jobs at the Fife site.
The Swiftsure dismantling project forms part of the Submarine Dismantling Programme (SDP), led by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and delivered by the Submarine Delivery Agency in partnership with Babcock International. The submarine is the first of the UK’s retired nuclear-powered attack boats to undergo full dismantling.
Earlier this year, in June, the MOD reported a major milestone when the submarine’s fin was successfully cut and removed at the Rosyth dockyard. The MOD has stated that almost all conventional materials will be recycled, with radioactive components handled separately under strict safety regulations.
The Swiftsure project is regarded as a pathfinder for future submarine dismantling work at Rosyth and Devonport, where other decommissioned boats from the Trafalgar and Resolution classes are stored pending disposal. The Ministry of Defence has said the experience gained from dismantling Swiftsure will inform the safe and efficient recycling of the remaining vessels.
The Swiftsure-class submarines served the Royal Navy from the 1970s until their retirement in the early 2000s. The lead boat, HMS Swiftsure, was laid up at Rosyth in 1992 and has remained there under care and maintenance
Well, It Sure is Swift compared to other programs.