Nuclear Submarine Endangers Hamburg

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

GREENPEACE: NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ENDANGERS HAMBURG


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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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GREENPEACE: NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ENDANGERS HAMBURG

Hamburg, May 9, 1995 (GP) Fifteen Greenpeace activists in 5
inflatables protested today against the visit of the British
nuclear submarine HMS Talent as it entered the Hamburg
harbour. Accompanied by the Greenpeace ship Beluga, activists
waved the radiation flag and buzzed the submarine.
"The presence of a nuclear submarine in the heart of Hamburg
exposes the residents to the danger of a nuclear catastrophe",
said Greenpeace nuclear expert Sven Teske. "It's playing with
fire in the midst of a large city. Nuclear-propelled warships
and submarines are ticking time bombs on the seas and a relict
of the Cold War. Nuclear reactors at sea must be forbidden".

Greenpeace demands that the Hamburg Senate withdraw its
invitation to the HMS Talent. In case of an accident, the
harbour vicinity and the inner city would have to be
evacuated. Large parts of the city would be contaminated. The
HMS Talent is propelled by an 11.2 MW reactor.

Even the Royal Navy estimates that the danger of an accident
occurring in a nuclear submarine is higher than in land-based
reactors. In particular, risks are increased because of
groundings, collisions and fire.
2
On May 1, 1992, a fire broke out on a sister ship of the
Talent, the HMS Turbulent. The sub was in its home port of
Devonport at the time - the fire in the control room didn't
reach the reactor but 24 persons were injured. In March 1994,
steam piping burst in the French nuclear submarine "Emeraude",
killing 10 sailors.

About 300 nuclear-propelled warships and submarines are
deployed world-wide by the nuclear navies with an inventory of
450 reactors altogether. A long series of accidents have
contaminated parts of the ocean. Five submarines (2 American
and 3 Soviet) already lie on the ocean floor with their
fuelled reactors.

ENDS