Britain’s crucial icebreaker ship is broken and has been towed back to base after suffering mechanical problems.

The Daily Telegraph reports that HMS Protector suffered a “double engine defect” while trying to leave UK waters on Tuesday morning (October 13). She was towed back to Devonport in Plymouth, with engineers aiming to diagnose the problem.

One source told the Telegraph described HMS Protector as “a really important capability for the nation”, while another said the situation was a “catastrophic failure”. Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe added: “Withdrawing our ice-patrol capability from the South Atlantic, at a moment of renewed Argentine sabre-rattling over the Falklands and their resources, while the High North grows more contested, is poor timing.”

The Royal Navy will have to assess whether the damage can be repaired. If she’s side-lined permanently, a replacement may not be found until the 2030s. A new icebreaker ship was earmarked in the Defence Investment Plan, but alongside the other new promised capabilities, they’re not expected to bolster the fleet this decade.

HMS Protector, previously known as MV Polarbjørn - Polar Bear in Norwegian - was launched in 2001. She had been chartered as a polar research icebreaker and subsea support vessel.

After being chartered as a temporary replacement for HMS Endurance in 2011, she was bought by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2013 at the cost of £51m.

The ship is a DNV Ice Class 05 vessel, designed to punch through first year ice up to 20ins thick. Following refurbishment shortly after being purchased, it was expected that HMS Protector would serve for another decade before being withdrawn from service.

Her mechanical fault comes at a time when operations are increasing around the Falkland Islands and South Atlantic. HMS Medway is currently deployed in the region and has conducted extensive security patrols despite threats from Argentina.

Without HMS Protector’s presence, the UK would be unable to fulfil its Antarctic Treaty System obligation. This requires there to be a permanent presence in the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

When asked for a response by the Telegraph, a Royal Navy spokesperson said: “HMS Protector has returned to her home port of Devonport while investigations into a defect take place. As part of the defence investment plan, HMS Protector will be replaced with a more modern variant to maintain the ice patrol capability.

“She remains part of the fleet and any decisions on her immediate future will be made in due course.”