BRITAIN'S ONLY ICEBREAKER SUFFERS ENGINE FAILURE

LONDON, OCTOBER 14 /SRNA - RIA Novosti/ - Britain's only patrol icebreaker, HMS Protector, has been towed to Devonport after suffering two engine failures, The Telegraph reported.

The newspaper said maintenance problems may have contributed to the breakdown.

The Royal Navy is assessing whether the vessel can be repaired. If not, a replacement may not be available until the next decade.

The Telegraph said that without HMS Protector, Britain would be unable to meet its obligations under the Antarctic Treaty, which require a permanent sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The report reminded that the previous patrol icebreaker, HMS Endurance, suffered a hull breach in 2008 as a result of "poor engineering standards" and was replaced by HMS Protector about three years later.