Rosyth – SeaWaves – the BEST naval news since 1995

HMS Pembroke Back in Action After Fife Refit

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 seawaves

October 30, 2019 – HMS Pembroke is back with the Royal Navy ahead of schedule and ready for action after a successful 42-week, £8 million refit at Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard in Fife. The work was carried out on the Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) by about 50 Babcock International employees plus specialist sub-contractors. The Rosyth team upgraded the ship’s sonar and communications systems, overhauled her propulsion systems and generators, and improved her fresh water tanks. Defence Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “The HMS Pembroke refit is another example of the impressive…

First aircraft lands on HMS Prince of Wales

September 24, 2019 seawaves

September 23, 2019 – The first aircraft today touched down on the deck of HMS Prince of Wales off the Scottish coast. Not 24 hours after the second of the UK’s new aircraft carriers sailed into open waters for the first time, a Merlin helicopter was guided safely into land on the expansive deck. For the first time in 50 years the announcement: “Hands to Flying Stations” echoed throughout the 280-metre-long warship and specialist aircraft handlers, who’ve spent the past year practicing for this day on a replica flight deck…

Britain’s Second Carrier Sets Sail for Sea Trials

September 23, 2019September 23, 2019 seawaves

September 19, 2019 – Britain’s newest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, has sailed from Rosyth Dockyard for the first time. Eight years after her first steel was cut, the 65,000 tonne warship will head under the iconic Forth Bridges later this week to begin her initial sea trials. Defence Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “Prince of Wales’ departure from Rosyth is a landmark moment for the carrier programme. As the ship takes the next step to becoming fully operational, she carries with her the story of Britain’s maritime might.” “This…

HMS Prince of Wales prepares to embark on maiden voyage

September 23, 2019 seawaves

September 19, 2019 – HMS Prince of Wales, the UK’s newest aircraft carrier, is expected to embark on her maiden voyage in the coming days. Cammell Laird is proud to have played a key role in the construction of this magnificent vessel – one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. Following Cammell Laird’s successful completion of nine units for the first Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, the company’s block building expertise was called upon once again in 2013. As part of a new contract awarded by…

HMS Penzance Completes Refit at Rosyth

March 20, 2019 seawaves

March 13, 2019 – We have successfully completed the refit of HMS Penzance minehunter vessel at our Rosyth site. HMS Penzance – one of the Royal Navy’s Sandown class minehunters – underwent a 10 month docking period at Rosyth. The refit included the replacement of both main engines, multiple Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) repairs and Addition and Alteration (A&A) packages. A team of over 50 Babcock employees made up of experienced electrical, mechanical, engineering, joinery and GRP shipwright resource delivered the work – alongside specialist sub-contractors. After passing the Ready…

First Supplies Embarked on Prince of Wales

March 13, 2019 seawaves

March 4, 2019 – The first stores have been loaded aboard HMS Prince of Wales as Britain’s new carrier takes another small step towards her maiden voyage. More than 62 tonnes of supplies – bandages, pots, pans, camp beds, pipe clamps, hoses, valves and firefighting equipment – have been moved on to the ship as the flat-top prepares to sail later this year. A 21-strong team from the aircraft carrier’s supply department spent two weeks working around the clock to move the stores on board – a task rather more…

Scottish yard awarded HMS Queen Elizabeth contract

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019 seawaves

January 9, 2019 – Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard has been awarded a contract to carry out the first planned dry-dock maintenance of Britain’s largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth. A Scottish dockyard has been awarded a contract to carry out the first planned dry-dock maintenance of Britain’s largest warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Defence Minister Stuart Andrew has announced. The £5 million contract, won by Babcock, will allow the 65,000-tonne carrier to undergo a routine, planned hull survey and maintenance of her underwater systems over a six-week period at the company’s Rosyth site.…

Prince of Wales’ First Flashup

November 30, 2018 seawaves

November 26, 2018 – The heart of the UK’s second new aircraft carrier now gently beats after her engines were fired up for the first time. Engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales turned on the diesel generators – a key milestone on the road to sending the 65,000-tonne warship to sea in the second half of next year. In the bowels of the carrier – in the later stages of fitting out at Rosyth dockyard near Edinburgh – there are four Wärtsilä diesel generators, each capable of producing more than…

HMS Prince of Wales Christened

September 9, 2017 seawaves

HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the Royal Navy’s two future flagships being built by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, was Christened September 8th during a ceremony in Rosyth, Scotland. The ship’s new sponsor, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay, followed Royal Navy tradition by triggering a bottle of 10 year old whisky from the Laphroaig distillery in the Isle of Islay, smashing it against the ship’s hull. This significant milestone comes just three weeks after the first aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth made her first entry into her…