Royal Navy sailors in hospital after ‘wrong chemical’ added to ship’s water

Navy says HMS Portland sailors hospitalised as precaution after drinking accidentally contaminated water

Sailors are being treated in hospital after drinking “contaminated” water on their ship, the Royal Navy has said.

Frigate HMS Portland is believed to have diverted to Portsmouth naval base earlier on Friday after the discovery that the ‘wrong chemical’ had entered the ship’s system to convert seawater to drinking water.