CONFIDENTIAL
Chapter Three Box
amount of dived activity in inshore waters considerably. Transits now normally take place on the surface and the amount of submarine training and exercise activity in the Clyde when fishing is taking place has been
reduced by 30%; this is in addition to the reduction in activity which will result from a smaller submarine flotilla and from the departure of the US Navy from Holy Loch.
3.
Where dived submarine operations take place in inshore waters
used by fishing vessels, our aim is to accommodate both the needs of the
Royal Navy and the interests of fishing communities. A series of
measures have been taken to reduce the risks to fishing vessels:
Advance notice of dived submarine movements is broadcast in all
the main submarine exercise areas. This scheme, known as
'SUBFACTS', is operating successfully in the Clyde Submarine
Exercise Areas and in the Rona and Raasay Ranges, and will be
extended to cover other regularly-used submarine exercise areas. Arrangements are also made to notify fishermen of periods of intensive submarine activity in other areas.
Revised procedures, worked out in consultation with the fishing
industry, have been introduced governing the conduct of dived
submarines operating in the vicinity of fishing vessels. These
procedures require submarines to maintain a separation of at least
4,000 yards from any vessels engaged in fishing when they are below
periscope depth and a separation of 1,500 yards when they are at
periscope depth, navigation and shipping constraints permitting.
Revised instructions have also been issued on the actions to be
CONFIDENTIAL
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