Warning over warships failing in warmer seas

Warships could fail to operate in warming seas, the Ministry of Defence’s climate tsar has told MPS.

Lt Gen Richard Nugee said that rising sea temperatures caused by global warming could act as a “thermal blanket” around maritime engines which need to be kept cool.

Giving evidence to members of the Commons defence select committee, he said: “All ships might have a problem because they will not have the cooling water.

“Already ship captains are saying to me the engines have the potential to cut out with the surface sea temperature it is today, let alone at 38C-40C on really hot days in the Gulf.”