British navy frigates HMSMontrose and HMS Marlborough were the first vessels to arrive on the scene the next day and search and rescue helicopters were on scene.

Anglian Prince , a dedicated salvage tug with a 170 tonnes bollard pull owned by Klyne Tugs (Lowestoft) Ltd, arrived shortly afterwards following a relatively fast passage thorough horrendous weather and heavy swells of 6-8 metres.

Anglian Monarch was contracted through the Ministry of Defence (Navy) on commercial terms to tow the vessel back to Scotland. Weather in the area was described as appalling and the tug stood by until conditions abated and allowed the difficult task of making a towing connection to take place.

That operation was carried out with assistance of a military helicopter and personnel utilising the Chicoutimi 's own emergency towline.

With the submarine safely in tow and the weather moderating, Anglian Monarch , under the command of Captain Angelo Bergum, handed the vessel over to naval tugs off the Clyde Estuary - to be taken to Faslane Naval Base.

The entire operation took the tug away from her normal Coastguard duties for just four days. Arrangements were made immediately to provide a substitute vessel of equal specification to cover Coastguard commitments during her absence.

Anglian Prince is normally stationed at Stornoway on the north west coast of Scotland under the control of HM Coastguard and is no stranger to rescue missions in the North Atlantic.

The submarine is one of four 'Upholder' class vessels purchased by the Canadian Navy.

It was recently renamed, and was commissioned at Faslane naval base just a few days earlier.

Chicoutimi was bound for its new home-port of Halifax when the incident occurred.