The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Anne opens giant berth for Navy aircraft carriers
The Princess Royal has officiallyopenedajettywhich will be home to the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers.
Anne unveiled a plaque at Portsmouth Naval Base at the giant berth which was formerly known as Middle Ship Jetty but which has now been named after her.
The 90-year-old jetty has been upgraded and strengthened to support the 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
Anne met some workers involved in the two-year refurbishment as well as Navy bomb disposal experts responsible for disposing of historic ordnance. A number of World War II bombs have been dredged up during work to deepen the harbour ahead of the arrival of the first of the new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, this year.
More than three million cubic metres of clay, sand and gravel have been moved from an area the size of 200 football pitches in dredging work.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwinsaid:“Theworkon the Princess Royal Jetty is a fantastic example of how we are investing in the future of the Royal Navy and is the culmination of £ 100million of infrastructure upgrades in Portsmouth in preparation for our twonewaircraft carriers. The Queen Elizabethclass carriers, together with our F-35 jets, will transform our ability to project power around the world.”