Royal Navy’s Newest Frigate Floats For First Time Under Iconic Forth Bridges

The Royal Navy’s newest warship, HMS Venturer, entered the water for the first time in full view of the Scottish capital. The 139-metre-long HMS Venturer is the first of five new Type 31 frigates that will patrol the oceans into the second half of this century.

On the evening of June 14, the ship was towed beneath the three iconic Forth bridges during the 11-mile journey up the Forth estuary to continue construction at Rosyth.

A mix of Royal Navy personnel and workers from Babcock International Group were on board during the journey. These include the engineers and shipwrights who have been building Venturer since the first steel was cut in September 2021.

Late last month, the ship was rolled out of the assembly hall named after her at the Rosyth dockyard using a large low-loader. She was then moved onto a special semi-submersible barge in preparation for her first entry into the water.

Since then, Babcock’s marine experts had been waiting for a suitable tidal window in the Forth estuary to float the ship off the barge. The process began earlier this week, when the barge sailed from Rosyth to deeper, calmer waters off the coast of Leith.

The ship’s crew helped carry out the floating operation with support from Babcock staff. As the water level rose around Venturer’s hull, she successfully detached from the barge and floated on her own for the first time.

Tugs were then connected to the frigate, and she was towed back upriver to Rosyth. This movement, considered her maiden voyage, took place with Commander Chris Cozens, the ship’s Senior Naval Officer, on board. This was one of his final duties before moving on to a new post.

According to Royal Navy sources, Commander Cozens said the launch was not just a ceremony but marked the completion of the ship’s main structure. He praised the teamwork and pride of the shipbuilders, the Ministry of Defence, and the Navy in preparing the Type 31 frigate for modern maritime challenges.

Once Venturer returned to Rosyth, she was carefully moved into an inner base within the dockyard. This area will allow Babcock and its contractors to carry out the final fit-out work, install systems and sensors and prepare the vessel for her first sea trials.

Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of Babcock’s Marine Sector, said that in today’s complex global environment, the ability to design, build, and support modern warships in the UK is more important than ever.

Calling it “engineering at its best,” he said the achievement was made possible through collaboration with partners, done with purpose and precision. He added that Venturer is just the beginning of the programme.

During the launch operation, crew members constantly checked compartments to ensure everything was working as expected. Among them was Leading Writer Andy Fleming, who usually handles administrative duties for the crew. Fleming shared that the moment held personal meaning for him, as his grandfather once worked at the Harland and Wolff shipyards.

Lieutenant Dai Guthrie, the frigate’s Deputy Marine Engineer Officer, said it was a proud and historic moment to be involved in the ship’s first time in the water. He described the operation as a result of the team spirit built during the ship’s construction and a sign of the progress being made to bring an advanced new frigate into service.

Once complete and based in Portsmouth, HMS Venturer and her four sister ships will take on a range of missions. These include stopping illegal drug trafficking, conducting security boarding operations, and responding to global humanitarian disasters.

Reference: Royal Navy

Source: Maritime Shipping News