The first two blocks of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of the new Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, will begin their journey by ocean-going barge tomorrow (Wednesday, March 31) from Babcock’s ship yard in Appledore, Devon, to its sister facility in Rosyth, Scotland where final assembly of both ships will take place.
The two blocks will be the bulbous bow, which is similar in size to the front of a submarine and the upper bow section. The blocks will collectively weigh around 400 tonnes, which is equivalent to almost 40 double decker buses and when positioned end to end will reach stretch over 50 metres in length.
The ships will be constructed at six ship yards around the UK and each block will be transported to Rosyth for final assembly in the Number One Dock, which is the largest dry dock in the UK.
The blocks will be waved off by members of the Royal Navy, industry and the workforce at a ceremony where the float out of the barge will signalled by a brass band and fireworks.
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May I be the first to congratuate the workforce at Appledore on a job well done. I tip my hat to you all and wish you all good forune for the future. Thank You………John Ray Campbell