MoD Publishes HMS Tireless Board of Inquiry

The MoD published today the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report into the tragic loss of two Royal Naval Submariners, and the injury of a third, following an explosion on board HMS Tireless on 21 March 2007. The two personnel who died on board HMS Tireless were Leading Operator Mechanic Paul McCann and Operator Mechanic Anthony Huntrod.

The BOI concluded that the explosion on board the submarine was caused by a faulty self-contained oxygen generator (SCOG) - part of the back-up oxygen generation system - which was lit during a routine drill.

The Board has not determined precisely what caused the oxygen generator to explode. Their report identified the most likely cause as significant internal contamination of the SCOG canister with oil, possibly exacerbated by cracking within the canister. The BOI concluded that the contamination could have occurred in storage on land or on board submarines, with the latter being the most likely source.

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, said:

“At what I realize is a very difficult time, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of the two submariners who died. I would also like to apologize to them for those departmental failings identified by the Board of Inquiry which contributed to this tragic incident. The Board of Inquiry report made a number of recommendations, all of which have been accepted and are being implemented. I would like to make clear that everything possible is being done to ensure that this cannot happen again.”

Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said:

“The loss of any member of the Royal Navy is felt deeply across the entire Service and I would like to pass on my sympathies, and those of the rest of the Royal Navy, to the families, friends and colleagues of Leading Operator Maintainer Paul McCann and Operator Maintainer Anthony Huntrod, who died in this tragic accident.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the sheer professionalism demonstrated by Ship’s Company of HMS Tireless in what were very challenging circumstances and which ensured that the submarine initially surfaced from under the ice and was then brought back to port safely. Their courage and teamwork reinforces my confidence in the ability of the personnel of the submarine flotilla to uphold the highest standards of the Service. They can all be justifiably proud of their actions.”

Following the HMS Tireless incident, the Department restricted the use of SCOGs in all submarines to emergency use only. The BOI has subsequently made 35 recommendations to ensure safety measures are incorporated. Implementation of these recommendations is underway and progress has been made. Since the incident, the Royal Navy and MoD have:

* issued more detailed guidance on SCOG hazards;
* improved SCOG quality-control checks; and
* issued stricter instructions for SCOG storage, transport and stowage.

The Royal Navy’s submarine flotilla maintains full operational capability and capacity.

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