The Irish Coast Guard will monitor any pollution risk today from yesterday's fire on board a former British submarine, recently sold to Canada, about 100 miles west-north-west of the Donegal coast.
Three Royal Navy helicopters were on standby at Ballykelly military base in Co Derry last night in case evacuation of the submarine was required. However, the British Ministry of Defence said that three of the 57 crew who had received minor injuries in the fire were being treated on board the submarine.
The Naval Service patrol ship, LE Róisín, was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the area, but was forced to turn back off the Donegal coast last night after suffering damage.
The Ministry of Defence said the submarine would have to be taken in tow back to Scotland if it was unable to restart its engines.
The fire on the HMCS Chicoutimi - a conventional diesel-electric rather than nuclear-powered submarine - broke out west-north-west of Arranmore Island, Co Donegal, at about 3 p.m. yesterday, and a Mayday was issued at 3.10 p.m.
The Chicoutimi was formerly the HMS Upholder and was one of four Victoria class submarines decommissioned by Britain and sold recently to Canada. The official handover to the Canadian forces took place at a ceremony in Faslane, Scotland, last week.
The initial emergency was handled by Clyde Coastguard as it is in the British search-and-rescue area, but the Irish authorities had to be informed as it is in the Irish pollution zone.
The Irish Coast Guard offered assistance, but the immediate alert was stood down when it was confirmed that the casualties on board had only minor injuries.
However, the LE Róisín, which had been on fishery patrol off Donegal, was tasked to go to the area to monitor any pollution risk.
The submarine had surfaced but was powerless, the Ministry of Defence said last night.
"It is coping with 16ft waves which will make conditions on board very uncomfortable, unless its engines are restarted," a spokesman said.
An RAF Nimrod aircraft, two Royal Navy helicopters from Prestwick and Culdrose, two Royal Navy frigates and one fleet auxiliary tanker, and two tugs - one owned by the Royal Navy and one by the British Coastguard - were en route to the submarine, the spokesman said.
Fire is the major risk for submarines in peacetime, and crews are trained for this possibility.
At the handover, the commander of Canada's navy, Vice-Admiral Bruce MacLean, described the submarine as "a vital national asset".
Two of the four purchased from Britain have already been deployed off the east and west Canadian coasts.
The Victoria class submarines have been described as "extremely quiet and stealthy" and well suited for a range of critical roles, including safeguarding maritime sovereignty and supporting foreign policy objectives.
