BAE Systems delivers final block of new U.K. carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth
The final section of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of two new aircraft carriers being built for the U.K. Royal Navy, has left BAE Systems' shipyard at Scotstoun, Glagow today to embark on a 600 mile journey to Rosyth, Scotland, where assembly is taking place, the BAE System’s news release said.
The Aft Island, also known as Upper Block 14, is the air traffic control tower of the ship and the centre of all flight operations. Travelling around the north coast of Scotland, the block is scheduled to arrive into Rosyth on Thursday 20 June. Once the island has arrived all sections of the first of class HMS Queen Elizabeth will have been delivered.
Weighing 750 tonnes, the Aft Island was carried onto a sea-going barge on 11 June. Preparations were then made over five days to secure the structure to the barge ahead of her departure from Scotstoun for the delivery voyage. On arrival in Rosyth the island will be lifted onto the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth by the giant Goliath Crane.
The aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales U.K., Babcock and the U.K. Ministry of Defense.
The carrier is being built from nine blocks built in six U.K shipyards; BAE Systems Surface Ships in Glasgow, Babcock at Appledore, Babcock at Rosyth, A&P Tyne in Hebburn, BAE at Portsmouth and Cammell Laird (flight decks) at Birkenhead.