British nuclear submarine runs aground

Oct 22, 2010 |

Associated Press

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London: A nuclear-powered British submarine has run aground on Friday in an accident off the coast of Scotland.

Officials say the incident was not serious and no one was injured.

The vessel involved was the HMS Astute, one of Britain's fleet of submarines powered by nuclear reactors and launched in 2007. The 328-foot-long (100-meter-long) vessel, the largest in the Royal Navy, grounded on rocks off the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland.

"This is a not a nuclear incident," Britain's defense ministry said in a statement. "We are responding to the incident and can confirm that there are no injuries to personnel and the submarine remains watertight. There is no indication of any environmental impact."

Defense workers were at the scene to assist the submarine's crew, the ministry said. The submarine is armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. It is powered by a nuclear reactor that will never need refueling during in its 25-year operational life, according to the ministry.

A crew of around 100 are typically aboard the ship.

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