Big chunks of the new carrier set sail!

[Paul K]

Rule Britannia, absolutely ! Well..with a single aircraft carrier at sea at anyone time, that is. Being an increasingly 'glass half-empty' type, I'll believe these two ships ( with the full air complement ) when I see them.

I rather suspect we'll end up operating the world's biggest helicopter carrier / improvised assault ship, with a spare one laid up in the Tamar ( or sold to an emerging navy like India ).

Anyway, why is completing the bulbous bow a 'milestone' in building a ship ? Its just the pointy end of the hull, simple as that.

[basys]

Hi Folks

Anyway, why is completing the bulbous bow a 'milestone' in building a ship ?

Paul -
Its a milestone in terms of a sub-contract completion.

The media prominence is because its the first completed module,
and will enable the Keel-Laying ceremony, (another milestone).

Traditionally the Keel-Laying ceremony
is carried out when the first module is laid down on the slipway.

Previously, ships were usually launched backwards,
the stern module would have been the first unit to berth.

In the carrier's case,
the assembly location is the newly extended No 1 drydock at Rosyth

The bow, (Lower Block 1),
will be floated in and laid-down at the dock's inner end,
followed in sequence by other block modules.

Eventually the completed hull will be floated out, stern-first.

HTH
ATB
Paul

[Paul K]

Ah okay, in terms of project management, its a milestone. Yes I can see that.

To me, an ex-marine engineer, and in terms of building a ship, its no more a milestone than casting the sternpost. [/curmudgeon]