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HMS Endurance may be a total write-off
The navy is considering scrapping HMS Endurance because of the damage she sustained in a flood, The News can reveal.
Defence sources believe it will be too costly to repair the Portsmouth-based Antarctic patrol vessel, nicknamed Red Plum after the distinctive colour of her hull.
And the navy has confirmed that axing the ship is one of several options being put forward.
An investigation is under way into the accident which took place in the South Atlantic, off Chile, on December 17.
Civilians had to be evacuated from the vessel when her engine compartment flooded in the Strait of Magellan, before she was later towed to Chile.
She is now berthed in the Falkland Islands.
The source told The News: 'When the engine compartment had been pumped out they realised how much damage had been done, and so it seems most likely that the navy will look to write off the ship.'
The navy refused to comment on the scale of the damage, or what the potential cost could be of repairing or replacing the ship.
But when asked if Endurance could be scrapped, a spokesman said: 'Work has been undertaken to consider all options.
'But until the assessment is complete it is simply not helpful to speculate on the way ahead or the extent of the damage.
'However, it can be said that the aim is to get the ship back into South Atlantic operations as soon as possible.'
HMS Endurance is the navy's sole ice patrol ship and carries out scientific duties for the British Antarctic Survey as well as being an important naval presence in the South Atlantic.
Although the Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Clyde is in the region, the navy decided last month to divert the frigate HMS Northumberland from Falklands duties to piracy patrols off Somalia.
In its place is RFA Largs Bay, which is crewed mainly by civilians.
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Commons Defence Select Committee, said the government should 'come clean' about the future of Endurance.
He added: 'If they are going to write Endurance off then they need to find a replacement as soon as possible, because we have had a British presence in the scientific community there for 40 years.
'The ship is a symbol of sovereignty that we need to maintain.'
The News saysDrama in the engine room
HMS Endurance is believed to have listed dramatically as water gushed into the engine room, sources say.
The navy has so far kept tight-lipped over the incident as its investigation continues.
But The News understands that the clearing of an outlet in the engine room may have played a major part in the accident.
The source said: 'The understanding is that one of the outlets had become blocked and they had loosened an access point to get in and fix it.
'But then when they did get to the blockage it gave way, and that's when the water started coming in.'
Sailors on Endurance had to call on their emergency flood training which is taught at a special facility at HMS Excellent on Whale Island.
The Damage Repair Instructional Unit is a simulator tucked away on the northern end of the island, where students have to patch holes with pieces of wood as the water level rises quickly.
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West praised the training immediately after the accident, saying it was 'first-rate'.
The navy declined to comment on any details of the ongoing investigation.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 10 February 2012
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