The largest section of the Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has safely arrived in Rosyth after being towed around Scotland.
This 8,000-tonne segment – Lower Block 03 to give it its official title – of the ship was towed 600 miles around the Scottish coast from one great artery, the Clyde, to another, the Forth, during a five-day operation. It safely arrived early on Saturday 20th August. (Nearly 4 hours late!)
This section is more than 20 metres (65ft) high, 60 metres (196ft) long and 40 metres (131ft) wide. In addition to machinery spaces, it contains cabins for more than 150 members of the ship’s company and part of the vast hangar.
One of the largest cranes in the UK – its span is 120m (393ft) and it’s 68m (223ft) to the underside of the main beam – Goliath has been assembled in Rosyth to move sections of Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales weighing up to 1,000 tonnes each. It’s due to be ready to start work next month.
She is seen here arriving on Saturday evening:
Firstyl being escorted up the river by the tug Eraclea
Approaching the Forth Rail Bridge
Nearly there, wonder how long it will be before this re-appears from the dockyard
