Portsmouth welcomed the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth today (Wednesday 16 August 2017) as the Royal Navy’s new super carrier berthed in HM Naval Base for the first time.
Thousands greeted the flagship carrier’s arrival into Portsmouth Harbour, lining the historic coastline of the city as the ship arrived early on Wednesday morning.
Moored in the Naval Base after years of preparation by thousands of personnel across the country, the carrier has brought with her investment into Portsmouth including new infrastructure facilities.
Last week local Labour MP Stephen Morgan opened new facilities for the carrier including a new development to support management personnel and provide a range of amenities including catering, changing facilities and offices.
Stephen Morgan MP for Portsmouth South said:
“HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales to follow next year – are a rebirth in our nation’s naval aviation capabilities.
Not only will these carriers provide crucial war prevention work, but also hugely important humanitarian aid and disaster relief across the globe”.
The new carriers, Britain’s biggest ever additions to its fleet costing £6bn, are likely to serve the nation for 50 years.
Stephen Morgan MP saw the ship’s arrival into the city on board HMS Diamond, a Type-45 destroyer. He added:
“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome HMS Queen Elizabeth to her home berth, our great city of Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy.
Following lots dredging of the Harbour and channel, and significant capital works in the Naval Base, none of this is of any value without the teams who did all the hard work to make this happen.
On this historic day, the people of Portsmouth can be proud of the welcome they provided today and proud of the contribution the city makes to the defence of our nation”.
