Oxfordshire scientists are trying to find a way to stop oil flowing from the wreck of the World War Two battleship, the Royal Oak, writes By Ian Townsend.

The British ship was sunk in October 1939 by a German submarine that penetrated the defences at the Scapa Flow naval base in the Orkney Islands. The wreck is an official war grave and the remains of 850 seamen are still on board.

However, the hull is leaking oil and experts at water technology research firm HR Wallingford are trying to solve the problem without cutting open the ship. Manager Dr Roger Wilkinson, said: "It is a sensitive operation. A canopy - a massive upturned bucket - was placed over the oil leak, but it broke away in heavy seas. We have been asked by the Ministry of Defence to see if we can replace the canopy and stop the oil pollution.

"We have to work out the worst seas that might occur and to see how best to attach the canopy to withstand them.

"Anything invasive, such as cutting open the ship to take out the oil, is not favoured. We have to find an alternative if we can."

A large-scale model of the battleship has been built in the HR labs, and scientists from Wallingford have been collecting data since October. They have visited Scapa Flow to measure wave intensities and examine wind records in an area notorious for its bad weather.

Dr Wilkinson added: "With this information we can assess how we can re-attach the canopy or find another solution. If all else fails we may have to recommend cutting open the ship."

Story date: Thursday 02 March

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