Rosyth & Building Nuclear Subs

A SCOTTISH dockyard will help build new American nuclear-powered

submarines. Defence firm Babcock, and its facility at the Rosyth dockyards
in Fife, has entered into a new contract with HII, the largest military
shipbuilder in the US. On Tuesday, the two firms announced an expansion of
their strategic partnership by signing the construction deal. It will see
the dockyard helping to build new US Virginia-class submarines.

 The National 10th Dec 2025

 https://www.thenational.scot/news/25686685.scottish-dockyard-build-us-nuclear-powered-submarines/

Rosyth earmarked as temporary repair base for new fleet of submarines. Work
is underway to design an emergency planning zone as plans progress for
Rosyth to be the temporary repair base for the UK’s new fleet of nuclear
deterrent submarines. Rosyth has been earmarked as a temporary contingent
for the UK Government’s Dreadnought class of submarines – the first of
which is expected to launch towards the end of the decade. Members of Fife
Council’s South and West Fife area committee were given an update on the
proposals at their meeting on Wednesday where it was explained that
“non-nuclear” repairs would be carried out from the dockyard when
required. Grant Reekie, head of radioactive waste and health physics at
Babcock International in Rosyth, told councillors: “The next generation
of submarines is going to be launched from Barrow towards the end of this
decade. “The intention is these will be maintained at the HM Naval base
Clyde however the Clyde facilities will not be available until mid 2030s.
“We have been asked to provide a contingent facility by the MoD to bridge
a gap of submarines coming into service in late 2020s from 2029 through to
mid 2030s when they will no longer be required as it will be done in
Faslane. “Rosyth is the only location in the UK where this can be done
due to the facilities, the expertise and the availability of the dock in
Rosyth.” “We then need to have a demonstration exercise and we are
looking to do that in 2028. We need to demonstrate the onsite plan and any
off site requirements. “We need to be ready by 2029.” Councillors were
told that the zone was likely to be between half a kilometre to a maximum
of 1.15kkm from number three dock at Rosyth and protective actions could
include looking at sheltering or the provision of Potassium Iodate tablets.
Rosyth councillor Brian Goodall questioned why there was no public
consultation. Committee convener David Barratt was less pleased with the
plans. “Morally, and as a CND member, I find the existence of nuclear
weapons abhorrent,” he said.

Herald 11th Dec 2025

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25689769.rosyth-earmarked-temporary-repair-base-new-fleet-submarines/

The Ministry of Defence says it will not reveal if nuclear weapons will be
aboard submarines being repaired at Rosyth in future, and confirmed
residents would be given potassium iodate tablets to block radiation in the
event of an emergency. The revelations came as members of Fife Council’s
South and West Fife area committee were given an update on plans for Rosyth
to be the temporary repair base for the UK’s new fleet of nuclear deterrent
submarines. While it was explained that “non-nuclear” repairs would be
carried out from the dockyard when required, some vessels at the Fife yard
could be carrying nuclear weapons – but an MoD spokesperson told
councillors that they would not reveal whether or not they were.

Dunfermline Press 11th Dec 2025

https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/25689904.submarines-repairs-rosyth-contain-nuclear-weapons/

Councillors given update on Rosyth submarine dismantling project. Work is
on track on a project which will see the completion of the first nuclear
submarine to be dismantled in Rosyth by the end of next year. Members of
Fife Council’s South and West Fife Area Committee were given an update on
the project at their meeting on Wednesday. Babcock International’s Nuclear
Operations Director, Ken Dyke, told councillors that discussions had now
started on what will happen with the six other redundant submarines
currently being stored at the West Fife base. “We have just started
discussions the MoD about exactly what we intend to do with the next
submarines and how we intend to do that and we are looking at putting that
schedule together which will give us clarification,” he said. “The way
we have done the submarine dismantling to date has been a piecemeal way.
The next submarines that come in will be undertaken as a whole and that
will give us a much better idea of the length of time it takes to dispose
of a submarine in one go.” Mr Dyke explained that the submarines all came
out of service in the late nineties and HMS Swiftsure has been the
“demonstrator” of the dismantling project. “Over 800 tonnes of waste
removed and 90 per cent of that is being recycled.”

Herald 11th Dec 2025

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25689824.councillors-given-update-rosyth-submarine-dismantling-project/