Carrier update August
HMS Prince of Wales
CB02A,B & C built in Portsmouth arrived in Rosyth at the end of last month.
All works for CB03 on Tyneside are now complete. The rings were loaded onto the barge last week starting on 15 August and sail away with all rings loaded took place 24 August 2014.
CB04 A,B,C & D are under construction on Merseyside as are CB02 F & G.
At BAE Portsmouth, LB02 was loaded onto the transport barge on Monday 18 August. Website story here. The barge left for Rosythe 26 August. This website item here.
8,000 tonne LB03 constructed in Govan, arrived in Rosyth 3 August 2014.
11,000 tonne LB04 is being constructed in Govan.
At Rosyth construction work continues on sponsons 3, 4, 5, 9, 6 fwd and aft, 01 fwd and aft, 8 aft, CB06A, SP07 and SP02, Units for sponsons 01 lower, 07, 08 aft, CB05B.
Integrated Platform Management Familiarisation Facility Rosyth
A computer based training and familiarisation facility has been installed in Lowden Building, Rosyth by the Power and Propulsion Sub-Alliance. The equipment was provided and set-up by L-3 Marine Systems supported by Thales, Babcock and RN personnel. The facility will allow the future operators of the platform to gain hands on experience with the use of the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) in advance of it being fully commissioned on the ship. In addition, the facility will support the development of operating procedures, crew training activities and in particular use of the Damage Surveillance and Control (DSAC) system. The system consists of twelve workstations and a large screen “Smartboard” each hosting a full version of the IPMS software. It is intended to progressively update the system with future IPMS software releases including the Platform On-Board Training (POBT) module which will allow full simulation of most of the platform machinery systems and allow the facility to be used for more comprehensive shore based crew training.
Ian Booth ACA Managing Director's August Blog from ACA website
I have to start by saying how proud I am of what we have accomplished on the programme in the last two months. The amount of work we have achieved from the official naming ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth, floating her out to her new position at J/K berth, and the arrival of the first major blocks for HMS Prince of Wales is no mean feat, and really shows what dedicated hard working people we have in our teams.
We all need to take time every now and then to sit back, reflect and remind ourselves that we are constructing the UK’s biggest ever warships for the Royal Navy, and it is only since she has taken to the water that we have all been overwhelmed by her sheer size and what a magnificent looking ship she is! She was definitely sheltered by the dry dock which has been her home for the last three years.
Since HMS Queen Elizabeth has moved, there is a real sense of pride and momentum in the programme to push forward with both ships. The focus is now on completing the outfit, integration, commissioning and test. This phase will include installation of the remaining external fittings and finishing’s, including catwalks, deck coating and landing lights. Internal equipment including her combat system, navigation and flight control equipment will also be installed.
Large sections of the second ship (Prince of Wales) have been delivered and are positioned around the Rosyth yard eagerly waiting to be assembled, and I have to say, I am looking forward to seeing huge sections of ship inside the dry dock again - the view outside my office has been a bit empty since float out of HMS Queen Elizabeth!
Assembly for Prince of Wales will commence in September starting with LB02 (the final section to be built in Portsmouth) joining LB03, constructed in Govan. These two gigantic sections will be floated off their transportation barges and manouvered from inside the wet basin into the dock in close succession. The dock will then be drained and the assembly process begins. The lift programme will commence near the end of September with the first of the flight deck sections, CB03 rings A and B, being lifted by the Goliath crane into position, other sections of the ship will quickly follow. I look forward to seeing Prince of Wales take shape and know that by Christmas time, there will certainly be a different view outside my office window.
The Queen Elizabeth Class programme truly reflects the very best of British design and ingenuity, and with HMS Queen Elizabeth now in her final outfitting position in the wet basin, we have a giant floating advertisement for the high calibre of Britain’s manufacturing and industrial base.