Putting pwr out of submarine at rosyth
Executive summary
The UK is dismantling decommissioned nuclear submarines at Rosyth as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project; seven decommissioned, defuelled boats are at Rosyth and the demonstrator HMS Swiftsure is being processed there with reactor removal expected around 2025–2026 [1] [2] [3]. The Ministry of Defence says it is still developing an enduring Submarine Disposal Capability and “assessing options” for a permanent site across the UK, with Rosyth able to handle only a small throughput compared with other bases such as Devonport [2] [4].
1. What “putting pwr out of submarine at Rosyth” appears to mean — dismantling and defuelling in play
Reporting and parliamentary records show the activity at Rosyth is part of the Submarine Dismantling Project: submarines there have been defuelled and one vessel, Swiftsure, is being used as a demonstrator to refine dismantling techniques and remove low-level wastes before reactor removal, which officials had scheduled for the mid‑2020s [1] [3]. The phrase “putting pwr out” thus aligns with the long‑running process of defuelling, removing radioactive wastes and, ultimately, removing reactors for disposal [1] [3].
2. Scale and capacity: Rosyth’s role and limits
Government material and reporting make clear Rosyth currently hosts seven decommissioned, defuelled submarines and is the site of demonstrator work, but it is not presented as the sole or permanent national solution. The MOD has said it is still in concept phase for an enduring Submarine Disposal Capability and is “assessing options for the capability and its location with various sites under consideration within the UK,” noting Rosyth can process only a small number of hulls at a time [1] [2] [4].
3. Timelines and concrete milestones cited in sources
Sources indicate Swiftsure’s programme has progressed through removal of low‑level radioactive waste and that reactor removal was expected around 2025, with the demonstrator project continuing into 2026; a parliamentary answer and reporting state the Swiftsure dismantling remains “on track” to complete in 2026 [3] [2]. The long‑term disposal project remains at concept stage and Parliament will be informed when a decision on a permanent site is made [2].
4. Local politics and public concern: two competing narratives
Local councillors and community voices oppose expansion of nuclear work at Rosyth, warning of public‑safety anxieties and demanding consultation; for example, Rosyth councillor Brian Goodall has publicly opposed further nuclear submarines being brought to the dockyard [5] [6]. Nationally, other politicians and officials push back against alarmist framing: local MPs and commentators have accused some claims (for example, the need to distribute iodine tablets to half the town) of scaremongering or misinformation [7] [6]. Both points appear in the record and reflect a local tension between economic/defence planning and community safety concerns [5] [7].
5. What decisions remain open and what the MOD says will happen next
The MOD has separated the demonstrator work at Rosyth from the enduring Submarine Disposal Capability Project. That enduring capability is still in concept phase and the department says it is “assessing options” and will notify Parliament when a decision is ready — signalling that Rosyth’s current role is interim and that other UK sites remain under consideration [2] [1].
6. Limits of the available reporting and what is not found
Available sources document numbers at Rosyth, the Swiftsure demonstrator programme and MOD statements that the long‑term site is undecided [1] [2] [3]. Available sources do not mention detailed schedules for every submarine beyond the Swiftsure demonstrator, the exact technical method planned for reactor disposal at a permanent facility, or final costings for the full disposal programme (not found in current reporting). They also do not record any confirmed decision to make Rosyth the permanent national dismantling site [2].
7. Bottom line for readers: what this means locally and nationally
Practically, Rosyth is the operational location for initial dismantling work now — but it is explicitly framed in official sources as a demonstrator with limited throughput while the MOD designs a permanent, UK‑wide disposal capability; political controversy and community concerns are active and documented [1] [2] [5]. Those seeking certainty on final site selection, long‑term timetables or full public‑health risk assessments should watch for the MOD’s formal announcement to Parliament and further regulatory disclosures [2] [1].