THEY glide menacingly beneath the waves, primed to attack at a moment’s notice.
But Britain’s nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarines have been defeated by a unusual foe after being warned to avoid a pod of killer whales that have taken up residence in the Firth of Clyde.
The orcas have been seen frolicking near the Faslane Naval base, forcing coastguards to issue warnings to sailing clubs up and down the Clyde, including the nuclear fleet.
The killer whales, including a calf, were caught on video by ferry passengers, who filmed them hunting for prey in the waters off Gourock and Dunoon. There is believed to be at least six fully grown orcas along with a calf, which the older group has been spotted teaching to hunt for seals.
It’s thought the pod is a “transient” group that has ventured into the area from the waters around Shetland, Orkney or Iceland, in search of fresh feeding grounds.
However, their appearance has coincided with the launch of a Joint Warrior military exercise that has brought warships, aircraft and more than 11,000 military personnel from 17 nations to Scotland for a series of training scenarios.
David Nairn, of Clyde Porpoise marine mammal project, said warnings have been passed to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Belfast Coastguard and Faslane Naval Base, amid concerns underwater noise could cause distress.
He added: “The naval exercise means there is a lot of shipping and underwater noise that could be a problem. They don’t want any harm to come to them, so there is a procedure whereby Faslane will be in touch with the fleet to alert them of the pod’s presence.
Greenock Coastguard yesterday issued a warning to boats to be aware of the pod, amid concerns that whale-watchers were heading onto the Inverclyde waters in search of the pod.
Mr Nairn added: “We’re sure these are not west coast orcas. They are more likely to be transient orcas who have cruised from Iceland, Shetland and Orkney in search of prey. It’s incredible that people have been able to watch them spy hopping and fast swimming from the shore.”
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