750 tonnes floats past...

The BAE Systems built Aft Island of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier has been loaded onto a sea-going barge ahead of its journey from Scotstoun site to Rosyth.

The Aft Island, also known as Upper Block 14, is the final section of the first of class HMS Queen Elizabeth to be delivered to Rosyth. The island operates as an airport control tower and is the centre of the flight operations on the ship. Housing 110 compartments, it is over 30 metres tall and contains more than 44,000 metres of cable.

A transportation team will spend the coming days ensuring the 750 tonnes structure is fully secured to the barge ahead of her departure for Rosyth on 16 June. On arrival the Aft Island will be lifted from the barge onto the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth by the giant Goliath Crane. Once the island has been erected onto the flight deck the ship will stand taller than Niagara Falls at 56 metres!!!

The aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a unique partnering relationship between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Queen Elizabeth Class will be the centre piece of Britain's military capability. Each 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier will provide the armed forces with a four acre military operating base which can be deployed worldwide. The vessels will be versatile enough to be used for operations ranging from supporting war efforts to providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Spent time in the sun (aaaah) and had some Pimms (aaaah), took mum shopping and had a walk along the front. Beautiful Sunday!