In a freak accident the merchant vessel’s anchor speared a test torpedo The ship was laden with about 1,000 tonnes of fuel Elite navy divers from Portsmouth evacuate most of ship’s crew while they went about destroying the explosive
Royal Navy bomb disposal experts kept a cool head as they blew up a test torpedo which had been speared by the anchor of a merchant vessel – laden with hundreds of tonnes of fuel. The historic ordnance had been pierced by the fluke of the anchor as it landed on the seabed, and had then been dragged up from around a 15-metre depth in Portland.
Portsmouth-based elite Southern Diving Unit 2 were dispatched to the scene where they immediately evacuated the majority of the crew. However six, including the master, stayed on board in readiness to fight any fires that could have broken out as a result of the operation.
‘The tanker was carrying approximately 1,000 tonnes of fuel or oil,’ said Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Campbell, officer in charge of the Portsmouth squad of munitions experts. ‘The fuel cargo was pumped into the aftermost possible tanks to reduce the effects of any explosion, and fire hoses were charged and ready to deploy if needed. ‘We directed the ship to use her other anchor to steady her, before lowering the fouled anchor, and the torpedo, to several metres below the waterline.
’ The Royal Navy divers – who are explosive ordnance device (EOD) specialists – had to then approach the torpedo and use their expertise to remove it in a safe manner.
Source: Porsmouth.co.uk