Fuel Tanker Spears Torpedo in Portland Harbour
There was a fortuitous escape for a fuel tanker at Portland after the vessel’s anchor almost inexplicably speared through an old torpedo.
A Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from Portsmouth undertook a seven-hour operation to separate the anchor from the torpedo, during which time the majority of the crew of the tanker were evacuated to shore.
The ‘test’ torpedo was successfully detached and towed to open water where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion. Whilst not as hazardous as an operational device, some practice torpedoes contain flammable propellant…not ideal when 1,000 tonnes of fuel sits only metres away.
