BAE Systems Marine Ltd (BAESML), the defense company responsible for building the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarines, has been ordered to improve its fire safety procedures after a fire incident at its Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in Cumbria.

The fire occurred inside the Devonshire Dock Hall facility in the early hours of 30 October 2024. While the fire was still active, five employees entered the affected area. Two of them were taken to the hospital for treatment but were later discharged and returned to work on the same day.

The incident led to an investigation by the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), which concluded that the safety arrangements in place at the time were not sufficient.

ONR found that BAESML failed to prevent employees from accessing hazardous areas without proper safety instructions. The company also lacked clear guidance to inform workers of the steps they should take in case of a fire.

Baethese findings, ONR issued an enforcement notice to BAESML under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The notice cited two specific breaches, Article 8(1)(a), which relates to general fire precautions, and Article 15(1)(c), which covers procedures to be followed in dangerous situations.

BAESML must demonstrate that it has suitable emergency procedures in place to protect workers during a fire to comply with the notice. The company has until 12 September 2025 to meet these requirements.

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Bruce Archer, Head of Propulsion Sites Regulation at ONR’s Operating Facilities Directorate, said that the regulator will continue working with BAE Systems Marine throughout the enforcement period to ensure meaningful progress is made to address the safety issues.

BAESML operates the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, which designs, builds, tests, and commissions nuclear-powered submarines for the UK government. The site is home to the construction of both the Astute-class and the new Dreadnought-class submarines.

Currently, five Astute submarines have been delivered to the Royal Navy, with two more, named Agamemnon and Agincourt, still under construction. The first two Dreadnought submarines, which are set to replace the current Vanguard fleet in the early 2030s, are also being built at the same location.

The Devonshire Dock Hall, where the fire occurred, is one of the largest indoor shipbuilding facilities in Europe. The building, opened roughly 40 years ago, spans six acres and plays a key role in the submarine program.

BAE Systems has already invested over £1 billion in new infrastructure and technology at the Barrow site to support the Dreadnought program. It plans to invest an additional £450 million over the course of the project. Approximately 10,000 people work on the submarine programs at the Barrow facility.

A spokesperson for BAE Systems said the company is taking the regulator’s findings seriously and is working to carry out the necessary corrective actions.

Reference: ONR

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