Babcock International Group has awarded the recycling contract to KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK to assist with fully dismantling the decommissioned nuclear-powered submarine, the former HMS Swiftsure.
This collaboration marks a milestone in the group’s partnership with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) and is part of the UK’s demonstrator project.
The Submarine Dismantling Project, managed by the UK Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Delivery Agency on behalf of the DNE, was established to address the dismantling and disposal of 27 decommissioned nuclear submarines.
Approved in 2013, the project aims to provide a long-term solution for safely decommissioning and disposing of these submarines.
The 22 submarines that have been decommissioned are currently being stored in secure locations pending dismantling.
Seven of these submarines are housed at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, while the remaining 15 are stored at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth.
Swiftsure is currently dry-docked at Babcock's shipyard in Rosyth.
The vessel is set to become the first decommissioned UK nuclear-powered submarine to be entirely dismantled and disposed of.
It presents as a model for the recycling of the current UK decommissioned fleet of submarines.
Babcock said that the focus is on implementing a new methodology that will enable approximately 90% of the structure and components to be reused or recycled.
The dismantling process includes the pressure hull surrounding the reactor compartment, which will proceed once full radiological reassurance monitoring has been completed.
It commenced in 2023, with plans for completion by 2026, ahead of the broader programme to fully dismantle all decommissioned Royal Navy submarines
to create additional space and capacity for submarine availability programmes.
SDA CEO Chris Gardner said: “The Babcock appointment of KDC Veolia as the recycler for Swiftsure marks a significant strategic milestone in the UK Submarine Dismantling Project. As the demonstrator for the project, Swiftsure will be the first UK nuclear powered submarine to be dismantled.
“Lessons learned will be applied to improve the process for dismantling of all future submarines, ensuring all boats can be safely and efficiently recycled with cost savings where possible applied.”
This milestone builds on previous work completed by teams to remove the submarine’s reactor systems and low-level radioactive waste.
With safety and environmental protection at the forefront of operations, the waste has been processed for removal from the site through Rosyth’s active waste management facility.
To commemorate the official start of the hull dismantling, more than 40 former crew members were invited to bid farewell to Swiftsure in November 2024.
Submarine Delivery Agency Disposal and Devonport Infrastructure head Chris Carpenter performed the first ceremonial cut of steel.
In October 2024, the UK government announced that plans were underway to determine the next two submarines to be sent for recycling, with a possible contract award in 2025.
It is anticipated that HMS Valiant, the lead boat of the Valiant-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, will be among the two submarines placed on contract for recycling in 2025.
