UK’s only naval icebreaker breaks down – Telegraph

The incident is a “catastrophic failure” amid growing tensions with Argentina over the Falklands, the paper’s source says The British Navy has been left without its only icebreaker after HMS Protector suffered double engine failure at sea, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday. The breakdown adds to mounting concerns about Britain’s readiness for a major war and persistent funding problems.HMS Protector, which was originally built in Norway in 2001, suffered simultaneous engine defects while departing Britain and had to be towed back to the Devonport naval base in Plymouth, the report says.Maintenance failures are suspected, according to The Telegraph, although the full extent of the damage is unclear. If it cannot be repaired, a replacement may not arrive until the 2030s, the paper said. One Navy source cited by The Telegraph described the incident as a “catastrophic failure.” Former HMS Endurance Commander Tom Sharpe warned that losing the icebreaker would undermine Britain’s presence in the South Atlantic amid renewed tensions with Argentina over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas, as they are known in Argentina) and the Sea Lion offshore oil project, as well as growing competition in t...