A nuclear-powered submarine may have run aground on a shingle bank because the charts it was using were out of date, sources say. The vessel is understood to have strayed several hundred yards outside the safe sea lane marked on Admiralty charts.| Not quite the same as being 6 km out of the way. |
HMS Astute was on sea trials when the rudder of the vessel is thought to have become stuck on the bank on the west coast of Scotland about on Friday.
One of the possibilities being explored is the possibility that out-of-date charts had not accurately mapped the shifting sea channels off the Isle of Skye.
It is believed a crew transfer from the shore to the submarine under way when the incident happened between the Isle of Skye and the mainland.
The vessel, described by the navy as Britain's most powerful attack submarine, was towed free by a tug at about 6pm on Saturday and sailed to nearby deep water under its own power. |