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»	Cruise Talk » Technically Speaking » Nuke sub causes havoc in Pompey!

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Topic: Nuke sub causes havoc in Pompey!

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-09-2003 05:37 AM

Is it the News of Portsmouth ran by greens or what?
A nuclear sub came to visit after an extensive refit.
They used o be based here, in Pompey, but have moved to Devonport, Plymouth.
Instead of a warm welcome, the paper issued a warning to schools, and a list of shelters ad public places to collect anti-nuclear pills!
God gracious, looks like a repeat of Savannah in the 60's or rehersal of Terminator3-rise of terror!
Any similar experiences with nuclear ships visits?
ssLewis, trying to catch the sub on harboureye.com tuesday7th October archives.

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 10-09-2003 01:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by sslewis:
Instead of a warm welcome, the paper issued a warning to schools, and a list of shelters ad public places to collect anti-nuclear pills!

This is sheer paranoia on the part of the paper, not to mention irresponsible journalism. The morons who run the paper ought to be looking for employment in an occupation more suited to their intellectual talents: grave digging springs to mind.

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 10-09-2003 02:08 PM

what are anti-nuclear pills? LSD?
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 10-09-2003 03:03 PM

Did you go and collect a 'pill'

I hope the local school teachers had more sense and took the kids to see her.
Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-10-2003 10:33 AM

I would like to know what the pill look like...
But I wonder if it wasn't some kind of Southern joke.
Journalism is based on fear, and may be they did this article to get people to see the poor sub.
Hope its crew was married, and glasses decontaminated after their visit to the pub.
Wonder if the journalist would shake hands with the crew??
ssLewis, preferring Cherbourg safe nuke sub

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-10-2003 11:06 AM

A google search for "nuclear submarine portsmouth uk" proved fruitful.
It is only the tip of the iceberg.
Hms Torbay, a nuclear submarine in Portsmouth, UK, has made the Times online issue an article on 09 october 2003.
But, the story goes further.
Last year, plans to bring back submarines with nuclear fuel have met very strong lobbying from schools and other parties.
Portsmouth is very populated and some fear a leak could be disastrous.
This, added with some of the StJames fleet toxic ships haeding for Uk shores seems to fuel newspaper and Greens rage..
ssLewis, preparing for stormy seas

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 10-10-2003 01:46 PM

From the Timesonline :-

Cancer pills for schools near nuclear submarine
By Ellen Connolly

ANTI-CANCER pills have been handed out to thousands of schoolchildren in Hampshire to protect them from radiation that it is feared could leak from a nuclear submarine docked in Portsmouth.
Potassium iodate pills, which prevent the development of thyroid cancer later in life, have been distributed to 31 schools in the city, as well as its university and art college.

More than 160,000 pills have been stored at distribution centres in the city to be handed out in case of a radiation leak from HMS Torbay.

Martyn Powell, emergency planning officer at Hampshire County Council, described the drug distribution in Portsmouth, and the nearby town of Gosport, as a precaution, but nuclear science watchdogs said the submarine should not be anywhere near children in the first place.

?The worst-case scenario is for gamma radiation to leak into the atmosphere from the vessel,? Mr Powell said. ?This radiation does not have a fatal effect straight away but can cause cancer of the thyroid gland about 30 years down the line.?

Di McDonald, of the Nuclear Info Service, said: ?We are concerned there could be a serious accident.?

Pam

[ 10-10-2003: Message edited by: PamM ]

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 10-10-2003 03:06 PM

Nuclear submarines are very safe if operated correctly, and I think this sub is safe.
I think the "anti-nuclear pills" are more dangerous to the school children then that submarine !

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-11-2003 06:27 PM

Thank you Pam for the link.
It has been confirmed that the pill is only available to youngsters, so I/we do not qualify.
Time to look for my school uniform and diet hard!
Seriously however, the local radio, OceanFM was getting hotter this morning.
Demonstrations similar to the Irak Peace walks were planned all day, creating havoc in the busy Saturday shopping traffic.
Warningss were also issued to stay away from the Dockyard were the sub is.
BTW, not good for visitors to the Titanic exhibition, who were met by demonstrators at the Dockyard entrance.
The exhibition is centred around a piece of wood pannelling that once was part of the ornament around tjhe pillars of the First class dining-room.
Tackyness attracts...
ssLewis

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Mike01
First Class Passenger
Member # 4210

posted 10-13-2003 11:25 AM

I've always enjoyed reading the posts on this page but never responded before. I feel that I must speak up this time. Whomever began this whole Nuclear Submarine scare is obviously trying to drum up interest in their newspaper. A modern nuclear submarine is no threat to the general public unless is splits in two and the reactor is breached. Under normal conditions, zero radiation is emitted from a ships fission reactor. The mariner actually recevive less radiation on a 3 month cruise underwater than the rest of us do from the sun in less than a week. Even if it was leaking, the only radiation that would be released would be gamma rays. These would have to penetrate the reactors shielding, the inner hull of the sub, the water in the ballast tanks and then the outer hull of the sub. If this was to happen, then no pill is going to help you.

As for the Potassium Iodide pills, I have a good knowledge of what they do as I am lucky enough to live between 2 nuclear reactor powerplants in southern Pennslyvania (one of them being Three Mile Island). There was a lot of concern about reactors being targeted by terrorists after the attack on Sept 11th. If a nuclear reactors shell was ruptured and the cooling water escaped a large amount of radioactive Barium and Potassium would be released into the atmosphere and watertable. If this is injested it makes a straight run for the Thyroid gland. The purpose of the KI pills is to temporarily flood the Thyroid gland with Potassium so it doesn't feel the need to absorb any of the radioactive material. This will buy you 24-48 hours to clear the area before the Thyroid starts to absorb large doses of radiation. This will only prevent you from getting Thyroid cancer in some years later. If you still get a high radiation does you will will become sick and die with or without the pill.

It is fairly certain that if the local authorities detected radiation spilling from the vessel they would take action. Otherwise there is nothing to worry about.

Posts: 17 | From: USA | Registered: Oct 2003 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-13-2003 05:15 PM

Mike01,
fascinating atomic talk.
Medias got a story to sell more newspapers.
It is a good opportunity to refresh our nuclear knowledge.
In these times of uncertainty, anything out of the ordinary is treated as threat.
The StJames river fleet however seems more serious.
ssLewis

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 10-13-2003 05:33 PM

I think you ought to write an article for the Portsmouth News Mike

It really is unbelievable the nonsense some of these papers get away with.
I also believe these 'pills' have to be taken 8 - 12 hours before 'fall out' anyway? Which in the very unlikely event of a catastophic disaster would be impossible anyhow. The subs come from Plymouth, so the fact they happen to be nearer one weekend makes no difference to their 'danger'

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

JohnM
First Class Passenger
Member # 1246

posted 10-14-2003 05:07 AM

Mike01, you almost have it right. I used to be licensed to operate a nuclear plant in Michigan (now I just program a reactor simulator for training reactor operators) so I know what I am talking about. The tyroid takes up iodine and one of the worst fission products as far as heath is concerned is radioactive iodine. The KI pills flood the thyroid with normal iodine, reducing uptake of any radioactive iodine that might be ingested. There is enough radioactivity in a reactor to kill millions of people. There also enough water in the oceans to drown every person on earth! I wonder if these people worry about meteors falling on them and other unlikely events. Heaven forbid they step into an automobile.

Posts: 40 | From: Georgia, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 10-14-2003 06:55 AM

Thanks too John. Automobiles - 42,850 people died in traffic accidents in 2002 in the USA. It's too common sadly, doesn't make the news, but a safe nuclear sub causes mayhem!
I just did a quick search on these 'pills'. People actually sell them on the net.. around $25 for 200. It is recommended a family of 4 buys 3 bottles. I think I'll save my money.
But Oh dear the marketing gimmic!

All of Britain/UK use Potassium Iodate/KIO3 as "The Anti-Radiation Pill of Choice" because of the ability to dose children and its long shelf life.

Pam

[ 10-14-2003: Message edited by: PamM ]

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

sslewis
First Class Passenger
Member # 3649

posted 10-14-2003 10:32 AM

Pam and Mike,
thanks so much for elaborating on these..News!
One thing is sure, marketing is behind all this!
I also suspect port rivalry.
Plymouth have taken many ships out of Portsmouth, including the famous submarine base.
Now, with VT moving in from Southampton, they need a lot of publicity, a typical newspaper task.
From Cunard in 1994, I learned that any publicity is good publicity..
ssLewis

Posts: 2513 | From: Shipspotting Solent shores when weather allows.... | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

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