A “massive milestone” in the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier programme was reached yesterday.
The final piece of the 65,000 tonne jigsaw puzzle that is HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed under the Forth bridges exactly on time on its way to Rosyth.
The 753 tonne aft island, which houses the ship’s air traffic control system, will be the centre of all onboard flight operations on the ship.
It stands more than 30 metres high and contains more than 44,000 metres of cable.
Once it is lifted on to the flightdeck by the massive Goliath crane, the ship will stand taller than the Niagara Falls.
Built in 90 weeks ahead of schedule by Aircraft Carrier Alliance workers at BAE Systems in Scotstoun, Upper Block 14 is the last section of the ship to make its journey to Babcock’s Fife yard.
Aircraft Carrier Alliance programme director Ian Booth said: “The arrival of the aft island is a massive milestone in the assembly of HMS Queen Elizabeth.
“Getting to this point has required a fantastic amount of work from thousands of skilled men and women.
“Seeing this section arrive at Rosyth is a proud moment.
“Now, before the year is out, we will complete the assembly of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest ship in the history of the Royal Navy.”
Now at Rosyth, Upper Block 14 is being positioned at the dock side while final preparations get under way for the delicate lifting operation that will see it positioned on Queen Elizabeth’s flightdeck.
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first aircraft carrier to use an innovative design of two islands.
The forward island, which was constructed by BAE Systems in Portsmouth, houses the ship’s bridge and vital mission systems compartments.
It was installed earlier this year.
HMS Queen Elizabeth and sister ship HMS Prince of Wales are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnership between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence, in a £5.3 billion contract.
Each carrier will provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base that can be deployed worldwide.