Three sailors from the HMS Prince of Wales have been detained in Rotterdam for offences including drunkenness and suspected drug possession, amid their participation in a NATO exercise. Separate incidents see HMS Queen Elizabeth sent for repairs.
Three sailors from the HMS Prince of Wales, a Royal Navy aircraft carrier valued at £3.5bn, have been detained in Rotterdam following a series of disturbances attributed to alcohol. The arrests include one sailor for being drunk and disorderly in a confrontation with local police that resulted in the use of a taser, another for suspected possession of cocaine, and a third for public intoxication without identity documents. The incidents have prompted closer surveillance by both UK Navy military police and Dutch authorities. The HMS Prince of Wales, with its 800-member crew, was in Rotterdam for a NATO exercise named Steadfast Defender.
In a separate event, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, another Royal Navy flagship, has been sent to Rosyth dockyard for repairs due to a propeller coupling issue. This technical problem had previously caused the aircraft carrier to miss a significant NATO exercise. Additionally, the ship experienced a fire in an accommodation area while at Glen Mallan, which was contained without further issues. The Royal Navy has confirmed that the repair work on the HMS Queen Elizabeth will not impact its operational capabilities, and an investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing.