A BRAND new Royal Navy vessel built on the Clyde has been hit by a string of safety fears just days after entering service, the Sunday Herald can reveal.

HMS Forth, the first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to be built by BAE Systems, which has a contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to build five, has been found to have more than 100 defects – some serious enough for the Navy to put the vessel in “power down” mode because of concerns about the electrical system.

Another defect included a flaw on the structures attaching life rafts to the vessel, with bolt heads found to have been cut off and glued in place.

READ MORE: Scottish island experiment could make Scotland world automation leader

A BAE spokesperson said: “We are actively supporting the Royal Navy to resolve issues around a limited number of bolt fastenings and the electrical system on HMS Forth. These are unrelated issues and investigations for each are now underway to ensure that we resolve any potential impact and establish the cause. We are committed to delivering equipment that meets rigorous safety and quality standards.”

The Sunday Herald has seen an internal BAE Systems document, dated April 24, urging staff to improve performance because the company is battling reputational damage over the standard of recent production.

“Our reputation has seriously deteriorated on the back of recent business-wide operational performance and we all need to take action to improve this,” it said. “We need everyone in Naval Ships to consider what the barriers are to right first-time performance in your area and identify solutions that you and your team can apply.”

The SNP's spokesperson for defence procurement, Douglas Chapman MP, said: "These revelations are alarming - the Ministry of Defence must provide complete transparency over any issues with HMS Forth. I will be raising the issue with the Minister responsible at the earliest opportunity."

OPVs are expected to take part in counter-piracy and border patrol activities, and HMS Forth – which was built in the Clyde shipyards – was expected to be put out to sea soon after a period at its Portsmouth base. It formally entered service on April 13.

“We are aware of an issue in the electrical system on board HMS Forth,” the BAE Systems spokesperson added. “We are actively working with the Royal Navy to assess and resolve any potential impact and establish the cause and we are committed to delivering equipment that meets rigorous safety and quality standards.

“Life-rafts installed on board HMS Forth provide vital life-saving equipment for approximately 400 people. We are aware of an issue with a limited number of bolt fastenings on board HMS Forth. These did not present a risk to the mechanisms that secure the life rafts to the ship.”

READ MORE: Scottish island experiment could make Scotland world automation leader

An MoD spokesperson said: "It is normal for us to work with industry partners to make some rectifications to ships once they have been handed to the Royal Navy. BAE Systems are already at work on some areas as we work together to ensure HMS Forth goes on to tackle piracy, safeguard our fishing stocks and protect our coastline."