Maritime safety

Spain demands explanation over collision of UK Navy sub

Spain is seeking an urgent explanation from British authorities after a Royal Navy submarine was forced into port in Gibraltar following a collision with a merchant vessel.

In a statement Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the government was seeking all information from the British embassy in Madrid regarding the damage done to the submarine and how the prior day's incident occurred.

The British Royal Navy said HMS Ambush's nuclear reactor was not damaged in the incident when the Astute-class submarine became "involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel" while submerged and conducting a training exercise.

It added that the vessel suffered some external damage but that no crewmembers were hurt.