Submarine Dismantling, Devonport & Rosyth

Rosyth Dockyard: Babcock on track to dismantle HMS Swiftsure. ROSYTH

Dockyard could become a “centre of excellence” for the dismantling of old
nuclear submarines. And the expertise of those involved in safely disposing
of the decommissioned boats and their radioactive waste at the West Fife
site is set to be “exported” to other countries. The submarine dismantling
programme at the yard is doing what no-one else has attempted to do -
removing the most radioactive parts left in the vessel, the reactor and
steam generators, and recycling up to 90 per cent of the ship. There are
currently seven old nuclear subs laid up at Rosyth and another 15 at the
Devonport naval base in Plymouth. A further five are due to come out of
service. Babcock CEO David Lockwood said: “There’s no dismantling done in
Devonport. “There are some discussions for Rosyth to become the submarine
dismantling centre of excellence but there are no firm decisions on where
the Devonport subs will be dismantled.”

Dunfermline Press 16th Sept 2025

https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/25471256.rosyth-dockyard-babcock-track-dismantle-hms-swiftsure/