Fire at BAE’s British sub plant ‘could set back AUKUS’

The Albanese government was scrambling for information on a massive fire at the UK’s main nuclear submarine plant on Wednesday that could set back the AUKUS delivery schedule.

Pictures from Social media show a fire in BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness. Pictures X

The Albanese government was scrambling for information on a massive fire at the UK’s main nuclear submarine plant on Wednesday that analysts warned could set back the delivery schedule for Australia’s $368bn AUKUS boats.

Huge plumes of smoke and yellow flames erupted at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness facility about 12.45am local time, with two workers taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Emergency services said there was “no nuclear risk” from the fire but local residents were advised to stay indoors.

The BAE Systems plant on fire at Barrow-in-Furness. Picture: X

The fire took hold at the site’s huge Devonshire Dock Hall, which stands 51m high, and 58m wide and is currently being expanded.

It was unclear how much damage was caused by the blaze, but at any one time there can be multiple submarines inside the plant at different stages of construction.

Strategic Analysis Australia director Michael Shoebridge said the fire came at an “awful time for AUKUS”, and could delay Australia’s already-ambitious submarine construction schedule.

“The Barrow facility is critical to the construction of the AUKUS submarines and the British navy’s current submarines, so it’s hard to see it not being a setback, not just for the UK but for all three AUKUS partners,” Mr Shoebridge said. “It comes at a time when we need the UK’s submarine industrial base to be expanding.”

United States Studies Centre defence program director Peter Dean said: “None of this can be good for the UK submarine building schedule.

“And we know the UK submarine industrial base needs to be accelerating to meet the timetables they have.”

BAE is currently working on the tail end of orders for the UK’s Astute-class submarines, as well as the new Dreadnought-class ballistic missile boats for the Royal Navy, and is drawing up plans for the SSN-AUKUS, which will form the basis of Australia’s submarine fleet. The company will build Britain’s AUKUS boats at Barrow-in-Furness, and Australia’s in Adelaide.

The Australian Submarine Agency said: “We are aware of a fire on site in Barrow-in-Furness and are in contact with our counterparts in the United Kingdom.”

BAE Systems said it was working with emergency services to deal with the fire, but declined to provide further details on the extent of the damage.

“Two colleagues have been taken to hospital having suffered suspected smoke inhalation,” the company said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then-British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace hold a joint press conference at BAE’s Barrow-in-Furness facility. Picture by Andrew Parsons / The Australian

“At this time there are no other casualties and everyone else has been evacuated from the Devonshire Dock Hall and are accounted for.”

The first AUKUS submarine is due to enter service with the Royal Navy in the late 2030s, while Australia’s first boat is slated for completion in the early 2040s.

Australia has pledged $4.6bn to boost the British submarine sector’s capabilities, but there remain serious concerns over its ability to meet promised AUKUS timelines.

The British parliament’s key accountability committee warned earlier this year that the country’s ten-year submarine industry investment plan faced a £16.9bn ($32.7bn) deficit – the largest shortfall since 2012.

“Successful delivery appears to be unachievable for five (government major projects portfolio) projects, including replacement communications technology, nuclear submarine reactors, and missiles,” the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee warned in March.