The largest section of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been moved out of the BAE's shipbuilding hall at Govan, ready for its journey to Rosyth.
ARRIER'S LARGEST PUZZLE PIECE ROLLS OUT ON THE
CLYDE
Glasgow, United Kingdom: Workers at BAE Systems
today moved the biggest section of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, the first
of two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, out of the
company's shipbuilding hall at Govan for the first time.
A team of 40 moved the 11,300 tonne aft section,
known as Lower Block 04, across the specially reinforced tarmac at
the yard in less than three hours using 450 remote controlled
transporters.
Angus Holt, Queen Elizabeth Class Block Delivery
Director at BAE Systems, said: "Today marks the culmination of
months of hard work and preparation and I am extremely proud of the
team's achievements in successfully loading out the aft section on
time and built to an exceptional standard. The sheer size and
complexity of the block both highlights the skill of workforce here
on the Clyde and the huge amount of progress which we continue to
make on the programme to deliver the nation's flagships."
Tomorrow (Monday 15 October), the block will be
loaded onto one of the two biggest sea-going barges in the world in
preparation for her journey to Rosyth where the aircraft carriers
are being assembled. Departing from Govan on Saturday 3 November,
the 600 mile journey will take Lower Block 04 around the north
coast of Scotland.
The load out of Lower Block 04 comes only 34 months
after the first steel was cut on the section in January 2010. Since
then, employees at the company's Govan yard have worked steadily to
construct the block which stands over 20 metres high and 80 metres
long. It is the largest hull section equating to around 20% of the
overall weight of the ship, and the final hull section of HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH to arrive in Rosyth. This will mark a significant phase
in the programme with all major hull sections of the ship delivered
and ready for integration. Approximately 250 employees from the
Clyde will follow the block to Rosyth where they will work in
partnership with employees at Babcock to complete the assembly
phase of this section of the carrier.
Meanwhile, production on both Lower Block 03 and 04
of HMS PRINCE OF WALES continues to progress at Govan, while the
aft island for the first ship is underway at the company's
Scotstoun yard. BAE Systems is also manufacturing sections of hull
at its Portsmouth facility. Additionally, the company is
responsible for the design integration and testing of the ships'
complex mission and advanced communications systems.
The aircraft carriers HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS
PRINCE OF WALES are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier
Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems,
Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence. BAE Systems has
an overarching role in managing the QE Class programme, as well as
playing a central role in the design and build of the ships.
The QE Class will be the centre piece of Britain's
military capability. Each 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier will
provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base
which can be deployed worldwide. The vessels will be versatile
enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war
efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
Please note a selection of high resolution images
have been issued to picture desks.
A team of 40 moved the 11,300 tonne aft section, known as Lower
Block 04, across the specially reinforced tarmac at the yard in
less than three hours using 450 remote controlled transporters.
The block has now been loaded onto one of the two biggest
sea-going barges in the world in preparation for her journey to
Rosyth where the aircraft carriers are being assembled. Departing
from Govan on Saturday 3 November, the 600 mile journey will take
Lower Block 04 around the north coast of Scotland.
Angus Holt, Queen Elizabeth Class Block Delivery Director at BAE
Systems, said: "Today marks the culmination of months of hard work
and preparation and I am extremely proud of the team's achievements
in successfully loading out the aft section on time and built to an
exceptional standard. The sheer size and complexity of the block
both highlights the skill of workforce here on the Clyde and the
huge amount of progress which we continue to make on the programme
to deliver the nation's flagships."
The load out of Lower Block 04 comes only 34 months after the
first steel was cut on the section in January 2010.
Source: BAE
Systems