A Canadian submarine left drifting in the Atlantic after a fire on board which killed a crewman arrived safely at a Scottish naval base on Sunday, helped by two British tugboats. The second-hand diesel submarine, making its first ocean voyage since the Canadian navy bought it from Britain, docked in Faslane with 54 of its crew on board, five days after the blaze which injured nine crew members. Docking was difficult because the submarine had partly lost power. "The submarine has docked safely and all 54 personnel are on shore," a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said. The fire broke out on the HMCS Chicoutimi on its way to Canada from Scotland and three seriously injured men were airlifted to hospital in Ireland, where one of them died. The vessel is one of four submarines which Canada bought from Britain in 1998 but which needed major repairs before they could safely put to sea. Canadian opposition politicians have long said the purchase was a waste of money. British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon defended the work carried out in Britain to ensure the submarines were seaworthy, amid speculation Canada may sue Britain. --More 2218 Local Time 1918 GMT
