Feature 6
Procurement is a process through Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)
which the MOD aims to acquire equipment on board submarines is
goods, services, works and utilities beneficial in that new or replacement
in a sustainable manner through the COTS components would have already
consideration of the through-life social, largely been manufactured to reduce
environmental and economic costs. such substances in compliance with the
Th e MOD is currently in the process of EU Directives and Regulations such as
developing its Sustainable Procurement the EU Restriction of the use of certain
Strategy and its interface with end-of-life Hazardous Substances (ROHS) in
vessel recycling is yet to be clarifi ed. Electrical Electronic Equipment. Such
COTS equipment would have benefited
Submarines and implications from Design for Environment principles
Th e key high level requirements for new, inherent in their manufacture.
in-service and end-of-life submarines are Given obvious space constraints,
considered in Figure 2. submarines benefit from a distinct
Given the security sensitivity advantage in that waste minimisation
surrounding submarines, it is sound is a design consideration from the
to assume that all end-of-life nuclear outset. Waste minimisation initiatives
powered submarines will be recycled include the reduction of packaging and
and disposed in the UK. Assuming increasing automation (reducing reliance
that no vessel components are to be on manpower), thereby reducing waste
exported for recycling and disposal, the generation during operations.
requirements embodied in the Basel Contingency measures and systems
Convention and the implementing focussing on the safety of the crew are
Waste Shipment Regulations are already well established. Th ere may be
unlikely to apply. However, given the a need to review contingency planning Figure 2 – Key Requirements for Submarines
lack of recycling facilities in the UK, to assess the adequacy of current
disposal (and laid-up storage) options measures and systems in mitigating
and available sites are limited. environmental damage. Sound Recycling of Ships are likely to
Despite its apparent focus on the disposal In accordance with new IMO apply to and aff ect all new, in-service and
activities, the new IMO Convention is also Guidelines, such preparatory works include end-of-life submarines.
intended to drive changes in the design pre-cleaning, decontamination, gas removal, However, the nature of submarines/
and construction of future vessels through decommissioning of systems required for submarine operations are such that
the adoption some of the heuristic Design obtaining the IMO’s ‘International Ready design and operational constraints
for Environment principles in order to to Recycle Certifi cate’. already take into account many pertinent
minimise environmental impacts during It is anticipated that current issues such as reduction of potentially
in-service operation and to facilitate decommissioning and Defuel, De-Equip hazardous substances and exercise of
the ease of reuse, recycling and material & Lay Up Preparation (DDLP) processes extensive controls over decommissioning.
recovery of end-of-life vessels. (and corresponding assurance systems) Consequently, the (new) requirements are
With the over-riding priority placed are likely to be suffi ciently comprehensive likely to largely entail the formalisation
on design and construction to ensure (although this needs to be further verifi ed). of existing arrangements, processes, and
crew safety and operational integrity, the Consequently, the new IMO requirements assurance and approval systems within an
bulk of the submarine will continue to be are likely to largely represent the IMO-approved framework.
constructed with robustness of build and formalisation and translating of current Notwithstanding this, the MOD has a
maintenance as a design criteria rather provisions and assurance processes in an signifi cant ability to further contribute
than ease of dismantling and recycling. IMO acceptable format. towards sustainable development
Nevertheless, other Design for Other implications on submarines may goals through, for instance, driving
Environment principles are being be raised by the Maritime Environmental design enhancement and in exercising
proactively adopted. For instance, Working Group (MEWG), a sub-group of infl uence over through-life procurement
the elimination/ substitution of the Ship Safety Board, formed with the aim decisions. WT
prohibited hazardous materials and the of looking into maritime environmental
minimisation of restricted materials compliance challenges. Th is article in based on an edited version of
are not new requirements in the ‘End-Of-Life Preparation For Submarines’,
construction or refit of submarines but Conclusions by Dr T Perry and C Chia, Frazer-Nash
rather, they are ongoing processes. Th e requirements of the proposed IMO Consultancy, given at the RINA Warship
Additionally, the use of numerous Convention on the Safe & Environmentally 2008 conference
Warship Technology July/August 2008 37
WWTJul-Aug08_p32+34+35+36+37+38.indd Sec2:37TJul-Aug08_p32+34+35+36+37+38.indd Sec2:37 77/22/08 7:43:14 PM/22/08 7:43:14 PM
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