The Antares Disaster: A Tragic Collision That Changed Naval Protocols Forever!

On a seemingly ordinary night in Scotland’s But Sound, a tragedy unfolded beneath the tranquil surface of the sea.

The fishing trawler Antares, manned by four crew members, became the victim of a catastrophic collision with the HMS Trenchant, a nuclear-powered submarine conducting training exercises.

This incident not only claimed lives but also led to significant changes in naval protocols, highlighting the importance of situational awareness and communication in maritime operations.

This is the harrowing story of the Antares disaster and the lessons learned from it.

A Calm Before the Storm
It was a still, clear night on November 21, 1990, as three trawlers, including the Antares, fished in the bay, unaware of the impending disaster.

The Antares, a wooden trawler built in 1965, was 57 feet long and crewed by four experienced fishermen.

The skipper, a seasoned fisherman, had purchased the vessel three years prior and was familiar with the waters of But Sound.

As the Antares set out for a five-day fishing trip, conditions were favorable—light winds and good visibility.

The crew felt confident as they navigated towards their destination, the deep trench of Debute Sound, a well-known fishing ground.

Meanwhile, the HMS Trenchant, a Trafalgar-class submarine, was engaged in rigorous training exercises with a team of Royal Navy trainees, preparing for the challenges of commanding a submarine.

Training at Sea
The Trenchant, measuring 82 meters in length and crewed by 120 personnel, was conducting a series of navigation drills designed to test the trainees’ abilities.

Under the command of an experienced officer, the submarine had spent four days running various simulations in the waters between Scotland and the Pharaoh Islands.

As the night wore on, the Trenchant completed a dummy mine-laying exercise and moved to periscope depth to conduct mock torpedo runs.

At 1:31 a.m., the crew was focused on their training, unaware that the Antares was still fishing in the same waters.

A Fateful Turn
At 2:00 a.m., the crew of the Antares communicated with the nearby trawler Heroine via VHF radio, indicating that they planned to rest below deck while another crew member took control of the vessel.

This routine communication would be one of the last interactions the Antares would have before disaster struck.

Meanwhile, the Trenchant’s sonar picked up various contacts, including the fishing vessel identified as Antares.

The duty captain, noticing the approaching vessel, ordered a sharp turn to port to avoid a collision.

However, the sonar operator soon reported that the fishing vessel was closing in rapidly and was well within the required exclusion zone of 2,000 yards.

The Collision
At 2:19 a.m., chaos erupted aboard the Trenchant as it collided with the Antares.

The submarine’s hull shuddered with a series of loud bangs as the trawler’s troll wires snagged on the submarine.

The crew of the Antares experienced a terrifying moment as their vessel was violently pulled backward through the water, rolling onto its starboard side.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the skipper and one crew member fought to power up the engines and break free from the entanglement.

However, the rushing water quickly filled the wheelhouse, and within moments, the Antares sank into the depths of the cold sea, taking all four crew members with it.

The Aftermath
As the Trenchant surfaced for inspection, the crew found lengths of steel wire and chain tangled around the submarine’s tower, but there were no signs of distress on the surface.

The captain, believing all was well, reported to the operations room that no alarms had been raised.

It wasn’t until hours later that the reality of the incident began to sink in.

By 9:00 a.m., reports of debris on the surface prompted a search and rescue operation.

Helicopters spotted fish boxes and oil slicks, leading to the discovery of the wreck of the Antares on the sea floor, resting at a depth of 150 meters.

Saturation divers confirmed the identity of the wreck, but the search for the bodies of the crew proved to be a lengthy and unsuccessful endeavor.

Investigating the Incident
The investigation into the collision revealed significant failings in the Trenchant’s watchkeeping and situational awareness.

The command team had misidentified the sonar contact, failing to recognize that there were two vessels in the area.

The Royal Navy’s standing orders required submarines to maintain a minimum separation distance from fishing vessels, yet these protocols were not followed.

As a result of the tragedy, the Royal Navy implemented several critical changes to its operational procedures.

These included a mandatory 3,000-yard separation distance between submarines and fishing vessels, requirements for submarines to surface when not on duty, and the presence of surface vessels during training exercises.

A Lasting Legacy
For the families of the Antares crew, the changes came too late.

The wreck of the trawler remained on display at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine for 18 years before being dismantled in 2008.

Today, a plaque at the pier in Cardale serves as a somber tribute to the lives lost in the disaster.

As boats continue to fish in the waters of But Sound, the memory of the Antares and her crew lingers.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance, communication, and adherence to safety protocols in maritime operations.

The tragic collision between the Antares and the HMS Trenchant not only altered the course of naval training but also highlighted the need for respect and caution in shared waters.

The Antares disaster stands as a poignant example of how a series of miscommunications and oversights can lead to devastating consequences.

As we reflect on this tragic event, we honor the memory of the four crew members who lost their lives and recognize the ongoing responsibility of all mariners to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews.

Through the lessons learned from this incident, we hope to prevent similar tragedies in the future, fostering a culture of safety and awareness in the maritime community.