Fire-stricken submarine adrift

2004-10-05 23:25

London - The newest submarine in the Canadian navy, the HMCS Chicoutimi, was adrift in rough seas on Tuesday off northwest Ireland after a fire that left nine sailors injured, the Ministry of Defence in London said.

"As far as we know, she's lost all power," a ministry spokesperson said, as a British maritime patrol aircraft loitered over the crippled submarine about 100 nautical miles (180 kilometres) off shore.

Two Royal Navy frigates and a support ship were expected to reach the Chicoutimi - a refitted British submarine that only joined the Canadian navy five days ago - on Wednesday morning.

Three air-sea rescue helicopters were meanwhile on standby at Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, and two tugboats were being prepared to steam out to the Chicoutimi to tow it back into port if need be.

"The main focus is on our preparations to lend the crew assistance if required," the spokesperson said, confirming that nine sailors had been injured - six more than reported earlier.

The HMCS Chicoutimi is the last of four refitted conventional powered submarines that Canada acquired from the Royal Navy, for which they were built in the 1980s.

It was on its way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with about 50 crew on board when the fire - apparently originating in its electrical system - broke out just a day after it set sail.

- AFP