WORKERS at the Aircraft Carrier Alliance celebrated the creation of the UK’s biggest ever aircraft carrier as the final piece of the hull’s main structure was lowered into place Monday, November 10.
Under the watchful eye of shipyard workers the Goliath crane gently manoeuvred the very front part of the aircraft ramp or ‘ski-jump’ of HMS Queen Elizabeth into place.
The 130 tonne section is the final piece of the 65,000 tonne HMS Queen Elizabeth’s main hull to be moved into position and signals the end of an important chapter in the delivery of the nation’s flagships.
Only the aircraft lifts and the radar remain to be lifted into place by Goliath.
Programme Director, Ian Booth said: “This event means a pivotal chapter in the delivery of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been completed. The ship here in the dock is a truly magnificent sight.”
“Everyone involved in the programme to deliver HMS Queen Elizabeth should feel tremendously proud of what we have all achieved to get to this point. Thousands of men and women across the country have worked together as one team in a remarkable demonstration of British skills and capabilities,” he added.
“This vessel will play a historic role in the defence of this nation for generations to come. Now our focus turns towards fitting HMS Queen Elizabeth with the sensitive electronics and systems she will need ahead of her leaving the dock for the first time next summer, while work continues across the country on the second of class, HMS Prince of Wales,” Booth concluded.
HMS Queen Elizabeth was constructed in sections all over the UK. As the sections were completed they were brought to Rosyth where the ship has been assembled.
10,000 people are employed on the programme to deliver HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, with hundreds of British business benefiting from contracts worth more than £1.6billion to local economies across the country.
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.
Facts
- The final ramp section weighs 130 tonnes
- The ramp stands more than 6 metres high
- It is the last of five sections of ramp, all built in Rosyth.
- Together they weigh almost 300 tonnes.
- The ramp or ‘ski-jump’ is a British innovation and allows aircraft to take off with greater payloads.
- Only the aircraft lifts and the long range radar remain to be lifted by Goliath. This is the last section of the ship's main hull.
- Construction of the major hull sections of ship two is now well underway.
