Costa de la Luz
Ecologists protest another nuclear submarine visit to Gibraltar
By h.b.
May 7, 2008 - 4:02 PM

Ecologist group, Ecologistas en Acción, has denounced that a United States nuclear submarine docked at 9am this morning in the port of Gibraltar. The USS Florida tied up despite requests made after the ‘Tireless’ case in 2002 that this type of submarines no longer be allowed to stay on the Rock.

The Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the sub is carrying out a routine stop-over and that they had been informed by the United States government, adding in a statement, ‘We request that such visits be carried out with the highest public safety and environmental guarantees’.
The sub is carrying MK-48 torpedoes and 154 ‘tomahawk’ cruise missiles.

It’s not known for how long the USS Florida will be in Gibraltar. Local councils in the Campo de Giblartar area trust that after the ‘Tireless’ case that no more repairs on nuclear subs are carried out on the Rock, although international legislation does allow for it.

Local ecologists say the numbers of nuclear subs staying on Gibraltar is increasing, and point to the cases of HMS Turbulent and HMS Sceptre.