Union chiefs have accused Serco Marine of bringing in “strike-breaking” tugs to operate at Devonport naval base while crews are carrying out industrial action.
Unite the Union has also asked if the tugs the outsourcing giant is employing from elsewhere are conforming to strict “nuclear compliant” regulations.
But the Ministry of Defence has categorically answered that the tugs have been thoroughly checked and are safe.
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Unite said Serco is using “external towage operators” from ports, such as Fowey, in Cornwall, and Portland, in Dorset, when its tugboat crew members at the Plymouth naval base have taken strike action in.
Devonport tug dispute - the story so far
Unite has written to the senior Royal Navy officer at Devonport asking whether the tugs being used from other ports have the required nuclear equipment on board, including adequate pumps and underwater fenders. It has also asked if staff manning the external tugs, including the master, have up-to-date nuclear training.
In a letter to Commodore Peter Coulson, commanding HMNB Devonport, Unite regional coordinating officer Terry Keefe outlined the union’s concerns.
Mr Keefe said: “It has come to our attention that when the members have taken lawful industrial action Serco have asked external towage operators from other ports, such as Fowey and Portland, to send tugs and crew from their harbours to cover Devonport.”
He asked about whether these boats have the adequate security clearance and whether all relevant bodies, including the MoD police, were aware of their arrival.
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He also asked whether the tugs have the required nuclear equipment on board, including adequate pumps and underwater fenders, and whether staff manning the tugs, including the master, have up-to-date nuclear training.
He wrote in his letter: “I felt it only right that you as Commodore of Devonport and the Babcock Nuclear Health and Safety manager are made aware of these issues to enable you to ensure going forward that full safety measures are in place and to get confirmation from Serco, in detail what precautions they have taken recently when bringing in outside tugs and crews.”
An MoD spokesman moved to allay fears of any risk and said: “Tug boats at HMNB Devonport meet emergency safety requirements and thorough assessments have been carried out.”
Babcock International Group Plc, which operates the dockyard at Devonport, and tug operator Serco have been contacted by Business Live but have not commented on Unite’s letter.
Tugboat crews at Plymouth’s Devonport naval base recently ended a four-day strike and have now voted by 89% to protect their strike mandate into July 2021.
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About 40 tractor tug crew members employed by Serco Marine at the naval base went on strike from 7am on Saturday, May 15, until 6.59am on Wednesday, May 19.
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This followed two 24-hour strikes in April, which the union called “well supported” but which Serco said did not cause it problems.
The long-running dispute centres on the imposition of a new “three weeks on and three weeks off” roster introduced in December, which Unite has repeatedly said poses serious health and safety risks for its members, including excessive tiredness.
It also has adverse implications for their annual leave entitlement, the union said, and it wants the previous “one week on, one week off” system restored.
The 海角视频’s nuclear submarine fleet uses Devonport for maintenance, refitting and refuelling, and needs the tugboat crews to guide them into the dock and then out again to open sea.