Fisherman obstructs nuclear sub in Sound

A COURT heard the captain of a multi-million pound Royal Navy nuclear submarine had to take evasive action to avoid the "potential catastrophic effects" of colliding with a fishing boat which had got into its way in Plymouth Sound.

- CARL EVE

Aaron Denning, of Amethyst Drive, Teignmouth appeared at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, where he faced one charge as skipper of the FV Girl Rona fishing vessel, of failing to comply with a published general direction of the King's Harbour Master in relation to a Moving Exclusion Zone The charge alleged that while in the port of Plymouth and being the skipper of a commercial fishing vessel navigating within the Dockyard Port, failed to comply with a Published General Direction of the King's Harbour Master in relation to a Moving Exclusion Zone (MEZ), "thereby impeding the safe passage of a designated vessel".

In addition he faced a further charge of failing to navigate a vessel without care and caution and reasonable consideration for the occupants of other vessels.

The details were that while being the skipper of the Girl Rona he "failed to navigate the vessel with care, caution and reasonable consideration for the occupants of other vessels, thereby causing danger to another vessel".

Denning, aged 40, pleaded guilty to both charges, which come under the Port of Plymouth Order 2020.

Prosecutor Alistair Verheijen said that on May 10 this year HMS Triumph - the last of the Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarines - was being escorted out of HMNB Devonport and onwards to sea when Denning's fishing boat "posed a risk" to the sub by crossing in front of it, inside the exclusion zone.

Mr Verheijen said that because of this, police launches which were escorting the submarine went onto intercept the Girl Rona and direct it back onto a safer course.