Tanker hooked torpedo off Portland

An anchor of the "Skaw Provider" hooked a torpedo off Portland in Dorset on Oct 14, 2017. The tanker had dropped its anchor in 15 metres of water off the port. Navy divers removed it during a five-hour operation. The torpedo was spotted while the tanker was heaving up its anchor. It turned out to be a test torpedo that was heavily corroded and thought to be a few decades old. The crew then called the authorities who dispatched the South Diving Unit of the Royal Navy based in Portsmouth. Most of the crew were evacuated from the vessel although six people including the master remained on board in case they were needed to fight a fire. The ship had on board 1000 tonnes of fuel or oil. The cargo was pumped into the aftermost possible tanks to reduce the effects of any explosion, and fire hoses were charged and ready to deploy if needed. The ship was orderer to use her other anchor to steady her, before lowering the fouled anchor, and the torpedo, to several metres below the waterline. The Explosive Ordnance Device Specialists inspected the torpedo before releasing it and lowering it back into the water. After seven hours the torpedo was destroyed. The device, which was extremely corroded was British made and probably came from a test range at Portland which was in use until the 1980s. Despite being a training munition without a warhead, it still presented a considerable danger as test torpedoes can contain highly flammable propellant.