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Work begins on aircraft carriers | Work begins on aircraft carriers |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Princess Royal has cut the first steel for Britain's biggest new warship to mark the start of construction work. | |
She performed the "steel cut" on the main hull of the HMS Queen Elizabeth at the BVT shipyard in Govan. | |
The carrier is one of two ships being built as part of a £5bn order for the Royal Navy. | The carrier is one of two ships being built as part of a £5bn order for the Royal Navy. |
The work has secured thousands of jobs on the Clyde, though there are doubts about the yards' future when these ships are finished. | |
HMS Queen Elizabeth and the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, will be the biggest ever to enter Royal Navy service. | HMS Queen Elizabeth and the second ship, HMS Prince of Wales, will be the biggest ever to enter Royal Navy service. |
The Govan yard is to fabricate much of the hull, the deck support and the propulsion system, with propellers weighing 33 tonnes each. | The Govan yard is to fabricate much of the hull, the deck support and the propulsion system, with propellers weighing 33 tonnes each. |
Work on the vessels will also take place at Portsmouth, Devonport and Tyneside. | Work on the vessels will also take place at Portsmouth, Devonport and Tyneside. |
They will then be assembled at Rosyth in Fife. | They will then be assembled at Rosyth in Fife. |
Job worries | Job worries |
The vessels will be capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and will be used for a wide range of tasks, including supporting peacekeeping operations and conflict prevention. | The vessels will be capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and will be used for a wide range of tasks, including supporting peacekeeping operations and conflict prevention. |
HMS Queen Elizabeth will come into service in 2014, followed by the HMS Prince of Wales in 2016. | HMS Queen Elizabeth will come into service in 2014, followed by the HMS Prince of Wales in 2016. |
Each ship will be a similar size to the QE2 ocean liner, with a flight deck the size of three football pitches. | Each ship will be a similar size to the QE2 ocean liner, with a flight deck the size of three football pitches. |
The work represents job security through the recession for nearly 4,000 shipyard workers on the Clyde. | The work represents job security through the recession for nearly 4,000 shipyard workers on the Clyde. |
However, leaked documents from the yards' owners, BVT, showed a plan to close some yards in the UK after the carriers are complete. | However, leaked documents from the yards' owners, BVT, showed a plan to close some yards in the UK after the carriers are complete. |
The government has insisted the Scottish yards have enough work to secure their future for 15 years. | The government has insisted the Scottish yards have enough work to secure their future for 15 years. |