I found this today in the Daily Record, A Scottish Newspaper, thought you might be interested.

NUKE FEARS AS BUG HITS NAVY BASE A MULTI-MILLION pound cradle used to lift nuclear submarines has been crippled by the Millennium Bug. Navy chiefs admitted that they were trying to fix the computer for the #300 million hoist used for quick repairs at the Faslane base in Gareloch .

The MoD insist there is no cause for alarm. But last night a nuclear industry expert warned that such a late start on Millennium Bug repairs shows it is management by crisis.

John Large warned that the crane can't be guaranteed safe until it is put to the test.

He said: "If this lift was holding a Vanguard nuclear submarine and just one of the many complex systems failed, you've got problems. This could potentially cause a radioactive release on the Clyde.

"If this was a civilian nuclear power station, there would be an independent regulator.

"But at Faslane, the MoD act as police, judge and jury."

He added: "It's surprising these repairs have been left so late. It seems there has been an awful mistake."

The hoist has not been used for three months.

An MoD spokesman last night said the computer work had been planned in advance for a gap in the lift's shedule.

He said: "We anticipate the system will be Year 2000 compliant by the end of this year.

"However, if we did need to use the shiplift at short notice we would be able to do so." (c) Copyright DailyRecord and Sunday Mail Ltd.,

http://www.record-mail.co.uk/rm/

-- Doug Dickson (doug_dickson@yahoo.co.uk), October 10, 1999