Inside Gibraltar's major nuclear safety exercise as UK pledges the Rock is 'prepared'

By John Varga, Maria Ortega, Foreign Content Specialist

The UK navy carries out exercises near Gibraltar (Image: Royal Navy)

The UK's military has successfully completed a series of naval exercises in Gibraltar, designed to test its readiness for nuclear incidents.

The British Overseas Territory hosts the HM Naval Base, situated to the south of Gibraltar Harbour.

Five berths are maintained at varying readiness, including two capable of receiving nuclear-powered warships.

Recently, the British army carried out a series of training drills called Rocky Sparrow.

HMS Triumph is a nuclear submarine (Image: YouTube CobraEmergency)

During the training, several emergency planning experts from HMNB Clyde and Navy Command came to Gibraltar to train and oversee a live exercise.

The experts interacted with British Forces Gibraltar personnel ensuring that key stakeholders and any new team members were adequately trained in their emergency roles.

“I am delighted that we have just successfully completed Exercise Rocky Sparrow, our annual training to support Gibraltar’s Operational Berth for nuclear-powered warships,” Commander British Forces, Commodore Tom Guy said.

“This is a strategic capability for the UK and Allies, and it is really significant that we have demonstrated that we continue to be capable custodians and, alongside the Government of Gibraltar, have been deemed by the Nuclear Regulator to be fit to safely and effectively operate the berth.”

The port is used regularly by UK warships and submarines that cross through the Strait of Gibraltar on their way between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

The submarine HMS Triumph stopped there in June to restock supplies.

Triumph is the last remaining Trafalgar-class nuclear submarine in the Royal Navy fleet.

The 23 year old sub was involved in military operations in Afghanistan and Libya, and described as having a varied role that includes fleet protection and intelligence gathering.

The UJK's Ministry of Defence does not normally comment on submarine movements in Gibraltar waters.

However, replying to a Freedom Of Information request in 2016, the MoD said that between 2011 and 2016 twenty nine nuclear submarines had visited Gibraltar.

Gibraltar has a busy and growing port with around 9000 vessels visiting every year.

As a bunkering hub for the Mediterranean it receives all types of commercial shipping as well as military vessels.