Portsmouth restrictions around new aircraft carrier
The Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has arrived in Portsmouth. Restrictions for vessels are now in force and will limit where and when yachts can move in the harbour around the 918ft (280m) ship.
Four temporary yellow buoys mark a 50-metre exclusion zone around the ship, enforced by two police launches. Boats going closer can expect to be chased away.
Gideon Sherwood, deputy Queen’s Harbour Master for Portsmouth, explained: ‘Both the large and small vessel channels into Portsmouth Harbour will be closed when the aircraft carrier is entering or exiting the harbour. In addition, there will be a 250m exclusion zone around the vessel and a 15-knot speed limit within a mile of her when she is under way.’
The 65,000-tonne, £3.1 billion ship has a crew of 1,600 and will operate 40 aircraft.