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British navy runs out of fuel

LONDON: Britain's navy is in disarray, with a lack of money for rising fuel costs keeping the vast majority of its frontline warships confined to port, the Sunday Express reported.

The Royal Navy is facing such a fuel shortage that 36 of its 44 main warships have been confined to port, while captains have been ordered to steam at no more than 15 knots to conserve fuel, it added.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) admitted there was a "strain" on the royal Navy's resources but insisted it was ready to deal with any operation.

"We do acknowledge that there is a problem with the Navy, because we have had a large scale of operational commitments over the past year, with Kosovo, East Timor, and Iraq, and a sharp increase in fuel prices, so there is a strain on our resources.

"However the navy remains ready to deal with any operational requirements should they arise."

The MoD spokesman denied that 36 of the navy's 44 principal warships had been "confined to port."

"On January 14 we sent out one of our largest training deployments, led by HMS Illustrious with 10 other ships to the Gulf, which will include a series of goodwill visits to the area.

"By Monday, we will have 24 ships travelling overseas."

Meanwhile, the Observer reported that Britain's Royal Air Force had grounded two out of every three of its 186 Tornado bombers, while fewer than 40 percent of other frontline aircraft were ready to fly at short notice.

The RAF was also facing a shortage of trained fast jet pilots, as well as the usual problems of funding, it added. The MoD spokesman was also at pains to deny that report. "Those that are not currently flying are in maintenance, not grounded," he said, referring to the Tornados. But he confirmed there was a shortage of crack fighter pilots. AFP