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Centuries of Portsmouth shipbuilding ends as last ship leaves Royal Navy’s oldest dockyard

• Aug 27, 2014 20:46
• By Euan Stretch

The prestigious dockyard was created 820 years ago - but it was announced in November 2013 that its owners, BAE Systems, would relocate to Scotland

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© Portsmouth News/Solent News & Photo Agency

Farewell: The final navy ship block to be built in the city

Centuries of shipbuilding have finally come to an end at the Royal Navy’s oldest dockyard.

Workers at the historic base in Portsmouth, Hants, watched the final navy ship block to be built in the city leave on a barge for Scotland.

Its departure signalled the end of shipbuilding in the city.

The prestigious dockyard was created 820 years ago and ships had been built there ever since.

It was announced in November 2013 that its owners, BAE Systems, would relocate to Scotland.

Almost 1,000 jobs were put at risk but workers still managed to finish the 6,000-ton last piece of HMS Prince of Wales in time.

The 920ft aircraft carrier, which weighs a staggering 65,000 tonnes, is set to return to the city at the end of the decade, along with HMS Queen Elizabeth.

BAE Systems workers still to take redundancy package or be found new role

200

 

Paul Bowsher, Queen Elizabeth Class project manager for BAE Systems, paid tribute to workers who completed the Lower Block 02 part of the ship.

He said: “There have been a lot of teams working on this from BAE, the Aircraft Carrier Alliance and from the maintenance side of BAE.

“It has been a true team effort to get this section out.

“We have been doing the building side of it and completed it to the right quality and to schedule, which I am extremely proud of.

“The guys here have been working in very difficult circumstances as we have come to the end of the build here in Portsmouth.

“It has been fantastic that we have been able to finish with pride, but it is a very sad moment for us.

“We have seen our colleagues over the recent months moving on and taking on new roles within the dockyard.

“We are still trying to help others into roles, but it is a very sad day.”

Years of shipbuilding at Portsmouth

820

 

The dry dock in Portsmouth is the oldest in the world after King Henry VII ordered its construction in 1495.

It soon became the place where the king’s ships were built. In 1670, Charles II created the Royal Navy and granted Portsmouth’s yard royal status. It is still the headquarters of the navy.

During the First World War a total of 1,658 ships were docked for refit or repair.

In 1981, the dockyard was saved from closure but seven years later the government, led by Margaret Thatcher, started to denationalise shipyards.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council, Councillor Donna Jones, said people should take pride in what has been achieved in shipbuilding.

Cllr Jones said: “I am happy and proud of what the city has produced.

“It has played a historic part in building such a ship, and that is something to be proud of."

As many as 200 people of the 940 affected BAE Systems workers are still to take a redundancy package, or be found a new role.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/centuries-portsmouth-shipbuilding-ends-last-4119893#ixzz3Bf6VlmxW
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