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Spanish non-governmental organisation Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción says safety around the Rock is at risk with subs allowed entry into the Royal Navy’s base in the Mediterranean. The group says an Astute-class vessel docked in Gibraltar on Tuesday.

The reported docking comes after HMS Artful underwent repairs at the British Overseas Territory in July.

In a nod to the Fukushima disaster, the confederation of 300 environmental groups added that nuclear reactor safety can be compromised by earthquakes, floods and extreme weather events.

Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción says in a statement: “We are not prepared for the management of nuclear accidents”.

The Royal Navy has two classes of nuclear-powered submarine, Astute, and Vanguard, which is equipped with nuclear missiles.

In its statement, Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción denounces the fact Gibraltar is becoming a port where the UK takes its submarines for repairs.

The group claims it puts people living along the Strait of Gibraltar at risk.

It also points to the berthing of HMS Tireless in Gibraltar in May 2000 as evidence of the dangers posed by such vessels.

HMS Tireless developed a fault in its nuclear reactor cooling system which led it to discharge 200 litres of contaminated water into the Mediterranean Sea.

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A European Parliament resolution after the incident called on the UK not to use the port to repair nuclear-powered vessels.

The ecologists’ group called “once and for all” for Gibraltar to be free of nuclear-powered devices and other vessels which it described as “real floating bombs”.

It said: “We do not have, nor do we want, a nuclear emergency plan. We want them to leave.”

Campaigners have said they will not just stop at complaining, but threaten to use methods within their reach to rid the area of “this nuclear risk”.

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Military sources say as a forward base, Gibraltar is a key staging post with the Rock playing an important role in the country’s influence on the world stage.

Gibraltar plays a key part in Britain’s defence with the territory considered by the UK Government and military to be of great importance.

After Brexit, the outpost at the tip of southern Spain represents a vital foothold for the UK’s armed forces with flagship carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth making her first overseas stop in Gibraltar before continuing sea trials in 2018.

Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción’s statement echoes one made in July when images showed HMS Artful, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Lancaster in port near Gibraltar’s Europa Point.

At the end of June, the US also sent its first ballistic missile submarine to Gibraltar after more than two decades.

It was the first time the Ohio class SSBN, USS Alaska- which can carry up to 20 Trident D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles – had paid a visit to the Her Majesty’s Naval Base Gibraltar since 1999.

There are seven nuclear reactors in Spain generating about a fifth of its electricity.

Jonathan Cobb from the World Nuclear Association said: “Since the Fukushima accident in 2011, nuclear reactor operators worldwide have reinforced flood protection where needed and ensured that backup power supplies are secure.

“Unless we expand the use of all clean energy technologies, including nuclear, climate change will lead to many more extreme weather events and more severe flooding.”

With additional reporting by Maria Ortega.

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