Royal Navy sailors rushed to hospital after drinking water on HMS Portland is ‘contaminated’

Royal Navy sailors were rushed to hospital today after drinking contaminated water on a ship, it has been alleged.

Frigate HMS Portland was said to have diverted to Portsmouth Naval Base today after a sailor noticed the warship’s drinking water had been ‘contaminated’. 

A defence source told MailOnline that a number of sailors have been taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.  

The source said: ‘The situation is quite serious. The ship has done everything they should do. They found out about it this morning and came alongside in Portsmouth.

 Frigate HMS Portland (pictured) was said to have diverted to Portsmouth Naval Base today after a sailor noticed the warship’s drinking water had been ‘contaminated’

‘They have got scientists on board investigating. The water has been contaminated by something. A number of personnel have been taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital for treatment.’

A Royal Navy spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that HMS PORTLAND has returned to HMNB Portsmouth as a precautionary measure, following an issue with one of the ship’s fresh water systems. 

‘The health and safety of our personnel is of the utmost importance and we are taking a number of measures to safeguard the ship’s company whilst the issue is investigated.’

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MailOnline has approached the NHS for comment. 

It is understood that the number of those impacted by the incident is still being investigated

A defence source told MailOnline that a number of sailors have been taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth

HMS Portland – launched in 1999 – is used by the Royal Navy for a number of purposes including security operations and warfighting. 

The 4,900-tonne ship is currently being upgraded to receive new radars, engines and a sea-based supersonic missile defence system. 

Reports of water contamination comes just weeks after HMS Portland announced that it was monitoring Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov and its accompanying tanker Kama as they sail into the North Sea.

The Russian vessel is armed with new Mach 9 nuclear-capable Zircon missiles, which travel at speeds of nearly 7,000mph, as well as Kalibr missiles.

Reports come after  HMS Portland announced that it was monitoring Russian warship

HMS Portland departed from its home port at Plymouth on Saturday, January 7, and was also reported to be equipped with ‘cutting-edge sonars, sensors and torpedoes for specialist operations’.

In a statement, HMS Portland’s Commanding Officer Commander Ed Moss-Ward said: ‘Escorting warships in UK territorial waters and the adjacent sea areas is routine activity for the Royal Navy.’