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| Navy submarine ran aground after series of errors, inquiry finds | Navy submarine ran aground after series of errors, inquiry finds |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| One of the Royal Navy's flagship submarines ran aground off the Isle of Skye because the officer on the bridge was not using the right radar, did not have a chart and was unused to navigating in the dark, an official inquiry has concluded. | One of the Royal Navy's flagship submarines ran aground off the Isle of Skye because the officer on the bridge was not using the right radar, did not have a chart and was unused to navigating in the dark, an official inquiry has concluded. |
| The 24-page report makes clear that a series of errors led to the £1bn HMS Astute becoming beached early on 10 October 2010, an embarrassment that was compounded when a rescue vessel crashed into its side and caused more damage. | The 24-page report makes clear that a series of errors led to the £1bn HMS Astute becoming beached early on 10 October 2010, an embarrassment that was compounded when a rescue vessel crashed into its side and caused more damage. |
| Nobody has been court martialed over the incident, but the navy said three officers had faced disciplinary or "administrative" action. The Ministry of Defence would not name those who had faced proceedings. The commanding officer at the time, Andy Coles, lost his post a month after the incident. | Nobody has been court martialed over the incident, but the navy said three officers had faced disciplinary or "administrative" action. The Ministry of Defence would not name those who had faced proceedings. The commanding officer at the time, Andy Coles, lost his post a month after the incident. |
| One of the military's newest and most modern vessels, Astute was undergoing sea trials when it became lodged on a shingle bank between the mainland and Skye. | One of the military's newest and most modern vessels, Astute was undergoing sea trials when it became lodged on a shingle bank between the mainland and Skye. |
| The official service inquiry into the accident notes that the commanding officer was taking a shower as the nuclear-powered submarine was heading for trouble, and that the "root causes of the grounding were non-adherence to correct procedures … combined with significant lack of appreciation by the officer of the watch (OOW) of the proximity of danger." | The official service inquiry into the accident notes that the commanding officer was taking a shower as the nuclear-powered submarine was heading for trouble, and that the "root causes of the grounding were non-adherence to correct procedures … combined with significant lack of appreciation by the officer of the watch (OOW) of the proximity of danger." |
| The submarine was late for a rendezvous with another ship and ended up "cutting a corner" to get to the right position at the right time, the report states. | The submarine was late for a rendezvous with another ship and ended up "cutting a corner" to get to the right position at the right time, the report states. |
| The OOW told the inquiry team that "he had never been south of the Crowlin Islands on the bridge in the dark before", and that he had been given no specific instructions about what to do, other than the time the rendezvous was due to take place. | The OOW told the inquiry team that "he had never been south of the Crowlin Islands on the bridge in the dark before", and that he had been given no specific instructions about what to do, other than the time the rendezvous was due to take place. |
| The submarine's primary radar was not being used because it was "emitting noise", though it was still fully operational. A proper bridge chart was not available until it was too late, the report says. | The submarine's primary radar was not being used because it was "emitting noise", though it was still fully operational. A proper bridge chart was not available until it was too late, the report says. |
| "Although the chart did finally make it to the bridge this was deemed too late and from his evidence it is concluded the OOW did not have any meaningful time to refer to it as events unfolded around him," the report adds. | "Although the chart did finally make it to the bridge this was deemed too late and from his evidence it is concluded the OOW did not have any meaningful time to refer to it as events unfolded around him," the report adds. |
| To begin with, the officer of the watch did not have a pair of binoculars, and he then failed to alter course when he was first advised to do so, which meant the submarine was "propelling ahead and heading directly" into danger. | To begin with, the officer of the watch did not have a pair of binoculars, and he then failed to alter course when he was first advised to do so, which meant the submarine was "propelling ahead and heading directly" into danger. |
| "Any situation awareness [he had] when he arrived on the bridge was now rapidly deserting him due to the lack of either radar, a chart or previous experience in this area," the report says. | "Any situation awareness [he had] when he arrived on the bridge was now rapidly deserting him due to the lack of either radar, a chart or previous experience in this area," the report says. |
| Once Astute had got stuck, senior officers failed to take appropriate action, probably because "the gentle nature of the grounding did not give any cause for immediate concern, and as such no one in any position of responsibility felt there was any immediate threat to the submarine". The report says this was "a regrettable oversight". | Once Astute had got stuck, senior officers failed to take appropriate action, probably because "the gentle nature of the grounding did not give any cause for immediate concern, and as such no one in any position of responsibility felt there was any immediate threat to the submarine". The report says this was "a regrettable oversight". |
| Early attempts to shift the 7,800-tonne submarine from the bank failed, and minor damage was caused when a towing vessel, the Anglian Prince, hit the Astute during a subsequent rescue effort. | Early attempts to shift the 7,800-tonne submarine from the bank failed, and minor damage was caused when a towing vessel, the Anglian Prince, hit the Astute during a subsequent rescue effort. |
| The inquiry made 10 recommendations, including issuing a reminder to the commanding officer "of his responsibilities for safety of the submarine and personnel … in particular the need to provide clear and comprehensive direction and guidance". | The inquiry made 10 recommendations, including issuing a reminder to the commanding officer "of his responsibilities for safety of the submarine and personnel … in particular the need to provide clear and comprehensive direction and guidance". |
| Rear Admiral Ian Corder, head of the submarine service, said he accepted all the findings, and said: "Remedial actions have either been completed or are under way." | Rear Admiral Ian Corder, head of the submarine service, said he accepted all the findings, and said: "Remedial actions have either been completed or are under way." |
| Corder said he would not say who had been reprimanded because "this is a private matter between those concerned and the naval service". He added: "The submarine service has learned from this incident. I am confident the incident is not indicative of wider failings." | Corder said he would not say who had been reprimanded because "this is a private matter between those concerned and the naval service". He added: "The submarine service has learned from this incident. I am confident the incident is not indicative of wider failings." |
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