Part Of HMS Queen Elizabeth Set To Leave Portsmouth

A massive section of a new aircraft carrier being built in Portsmouth is being loaded onto a giant barge today before heading to Scotland next week.

A huge section of hull of HMS Queen Elizabeth will be moved out of BAE Systems facility at Portsmouth today - Monday 14 May - and loaded onto a huge sea going barge in preparation for transit to Rosyth, Scotland

Next week, the 6,000 tonne block known as Lower Block 02, will start its 600 mile journey to the east coast of Scotland where the ships are being assembled in dry dock.

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.

This section has already been fitted out with cabins, toilets, showers and recreational areas.

The ship should be ready by 2016.