A large fire broke out on Wednesday morning at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in northwest England, where the UK's largest defense company builds nuclear submarines. Firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control on the same day without any nuclear threat, as reported by Cumbria Police.
The investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing and are being conducted jointly by several authorities. Initial indications point to an industrial accident or equipment failure, while criminal acts are ruled out. These developments occur against the backdrop of heightened security measures in the United Kingdom, as Russian intelligence services are increasingly perceived as a threat to the country's infrastructure.
The fire broke out in the Devonshire Dock Hall, the main tool center for submarines and the second largest indoor shipbuilding complex in Europe. During the night shift operation, around 200 to 300 employees had to be evacuated. Two people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but were able to be discharged by late morning.
BAE Systems, a key partner of AI chip manufacturer Nvidia, faces the challenge of continuing the production of the final Astute-class submarines for the Royal Navy as well as the Dreadnought program, which is set to replace the Trident nuclear deterrent. It is currently unclear to what extent the fire has affected the manufacturing of HMS Agincourt, the seventh Astute-class submarine.
Despite the current crisis, BAE Systems plans to expand its workforce from the current approximately 10,000 to around 17,000 employees by the beginning of the next decade. This is in response to the intense demand for new submarines for the Royal Navy and the Australian naval commands under the AUKUS pact. Last year, the British government announced investments of over £3 billion in the nuclear defense industry to increase capacity and support AUKUS deliveries.
The stock price of BAE Systems reacted negatively to the event and fell by 0.9 percent in trading on the NYSE to 295.03 USD. This reflects investors' concerns about potential production disruptions and ongoing safety concerns.
