HMS ASTUTE sailing from her homeport at HMNB Cltyde. Image via Royal Navy
(Reuters) – Britain’s navy has fired nine sailors serving on a nuclear-armed submarine after they tested positive for using cocaine, the country’s defense ministry said on Saturday.
The crew were from HMS Vigilant, one of four Royal Navy submarines which operate the Trident nuclear missile system.
“We do not tolerate drugs misuse by service personnel. Those found to have fallen short of our high standards face being discharged from service,” a Royal Navy spokesman said.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that the sailors had failed drugs tests while the submarine was docked in the United States to pick up nuclear warheads and undergo work, and the sailors had been accommodated in hotels on shore.
A defense ministry spokesman declined to comment on the location of the incident but said: “There is no evidence to suggest any individual was under the influence while performing their duties.”
The ministry also confirmed the submarine’s commander had been relieved of his command pending investigation, but declined to give details. Previous reports said this was due to an earlier unrelated incident.
Britain’s four nuclear-armed submarines each carry eight operational missiles and 40 nuclear warheads, and have a crew of 135. Since 1969 Britain has had at least one nuclear-armed submarine on patrol at all times.
© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 109,835 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
The European Council has extended its counter-piracy mission Operation ATALANTA for two more years, coming amid a dramatic resurgence of Somali piracy that has seen 43 incidents in the past...
Finland’s government has taken a decisive step toward modernizing its critical maritime infrastructure by supporting funding for a new Baltic Sea Class B icebreaker, marking a significant development in regional...
Norway said on Monday it would provide 2.7 billion crowns ($242 million) to strengthen the Ukrainian navy and help it deter Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
Sign Up
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 109,835 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
