Cruise Ship Advisory Issued Due to Nuclear Submarine Presence in Gibraltar
Vessels docked in Gibraltar Harbour are receiving warnings regarding potential hazards due to the presence of a British nuclear submarine. Spanish environmental activists are alerting passengers on cruise ships in Gibraltar to perceived dangers of being in proximity to the Royal Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine.
HMS Astute arrived in Gibraltar the previous week and is currently situated at the dockyard within admiralty waters, south of Gibraltar Harbour. Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción stated that the military port “endangers Gibraltar’s tourism sector.” The environmental group elaborated, “Gibraltar must decide its priority: a military port or a tourist hub. The docking of the UK nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute in Gibraltar’s military port on March 15, 2025, jeopardizes the Rock’s appeal to tourists.”
Environmentalists Voice Long-Standing Concerns Over Nuclear Submarine Visits
Spanish environmental organizations have consistently protested against visits to Gibraltar by nuclear submarines from both the UK and the US.
Ecologistas en Acción reiterated their stance: “We continue to oppose the arrival of these submarines, propelled by nuclear reactors, which pose a risk to the Strait of Gibraltar and the communities residing in this area.”
Gibraltar’s Military Port: A Repair Hub?
The group further claimed, “Gibraltar’s military port is evolving into a designated ‘X’ port, utilized by the United Kingdom for submarine repairs. Conducting such operations on nuclear submarines in Gibraltar puts the local populace in danger.”
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Demand for a Nuclear-Free Gibraltar
Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción urgently demanded, “We insist on the definitive removal of nuclear-powered devices and other vessels, effectively floating bombs, from Gibraltar.”
Gibraltar’s Strategic Importance for the Royal Navy
HMS Astute is the lead submarine of the Royal Navy’s Astute class, comprising seven nuclear-powered, but not nuclear-armed, vessels.
Gibraltar is a significant operational base for the Royal Navy, hosting 79 ship visits in 2022. Its strategic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea renders it vital for both the Royal Navy and NATO operations.
Strategic Maritime Crossroads
The waters surrounding Gibraltar occupy a pivotal geographical position, serving as a major intersection for shipping lanes connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Key Resupply Point
This unique geographical advantage transforms Gibraltar’s port into a crucial resupply point for maritime traffic, with approximately 60,000 ships traversing its waters annually.