Exclusive drone footage reveals the rapid development of the new shipbuilding hall at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.
This ‘frigate factory’ is set to significantly enhance the UK’s naval shipbuilding capabilities.
The massive facility’s construction involves over 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000 cubic metres of concrete. Once completed, it will accommodate two Type 26 Frigates side by side, providing a substantial boost in production efficiency.
The footage, captured legally by a qualified drone operator in compliance with UK drone legislation, offers a detailed look at the scale and progress of the build. The operator ensured all safety measures, including insurance and a pre-approved flight plan, were in place.
Previously, the assembly of HMS Glasgow took place in an outdoor hard-standing area, where sections built in the existing hall were joined. The new shipbuilding hall will allow for indoor assembly, shielding the process from weather conditions. This modernisation effort aims to increase the yard’s capacity and efficiency.
The new hall, measuring approximately 81 metres wide, 170 metres long, and 49 metres high, will be a significant upgrade while the original build hall remains operational. The facility’s completion is expected to streamline the production of future Type 26 Frigates, reinforcing the UK’s naval infrastructure.
The Type 26 frigate, also known as the City-class frigate, represents the next generation of anti-submarine warfare vessels being developed for the Royal Navy. Variants are planned for the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. This project, known as the Global Combat Ship programme, aimed to replace the Royal Navy’s ageing Type 23 frigates and to offer a versatile platform for export.
The Type 26 frigate originated from the Future Surface Combatant (FSC) programme, which began in 1998 to find replacements for the Type 22 and Type 23 frigates. Initial concepts included various designs, such as a trimaran hull, but by 2010, the focus shifted to a more conventional and flexible design under the Global Combat Ship programme, you can find out more about the ship in one of our previous guides to the vessel.
You have to love those drone videos. That’s really looking like one big old garden shed! We hear that Cardiff will launch in less than a month then all the builds will move to the new building. So we should see it finished off pretty soon.
Can’t wait.
Interesting to know what level of consolidation of the block will occur before they get to the big shed?
Will the existing sheds make super blocks?
Or will the existing sheds be used for something else?
Exactly what I was wondering. I suspect blocks will be constructed in the existing sheds before moving into the new one to be attached from the stern forward but pure guess.
Hi SB,
I was expecting to see some clear means or route for super blocks to be transferred from the old sheds to the new one but it looks quite tight at the front of the new shed. This is especially true just to the left of the new shed as there is a ‘pitch’ point where the barge will dock to lift Cardiff off.
So if nothing less there is going to be a limit on the size of block that is moved into the shed via the front doors.
I guess they have worked out how they are going to do it. The main point is that it is a big improvement on current capacity.
Now I’d like to see a batch 3 ordered in a couple of years time – perhaps with some improvements based on initial trials experience and with a load of luck they’ll set to and aim for a steady drum beat. If the politicians don’t that, and a heck of a lot more besides… well they are knowingly taking a huge risks with all of our futures.
Cheers CR
and the waiting for ships still drags on.
Obviously the national coffers are in a right state, but I can’t help thinking that we need a bigger facility as elaborate as this elsewhere, if the RN are to get the new multi-role amphib vessels in the sort of tight time frame required. Then there’s Type 83, which although much further off in terms of needing to cut steel, needs planning for. I look at yards on the continent, and Scandinavia churning out some huge civilian ships, and I wonder if we’ll get to that. Have to factor in a trained workforce too, of course, and that can’t be magicked up overnight… Money, money, money as that Swedish group used to sing…
That really is the best drone video yet.
get our ships build you useless bloody builders
My son lives in the new apartments opposite the yard and it’s brilliant and fascinating to see this industry working on the river as it should. I love it.
What I can’t understand is that with all the countries shipbuilding capabilities, why are we only building these warships in one shipyard
all the countries capabilities? do you know something nobody else does? if half of the money wasted on the Clyde had been invested elsewhere in the UK.wed have been in better shape than just the bloody Clyde.
I hope that they have allowed for the height of the one piece radar structure being installed in the new hall and clearing the internal gantry cranes , looking at Cardiff sitting there the height looks rather dubious, if it can’t fit inside then someone should get sacked .
I don’t see why they should be sacked. Like you say it can be installed in one piece therefore js far easier to install outside the shed than having to build a hugely tall hall.
The hall is supposed to simplify and improve outfitting work indoors , the radar stack is complex with lots of fit out and should be installed prior to loading out .
It would also hugely increase the height the hall would have to be. It’s perfectly reasonable to add it later.
The whole ourpose of the build hall is to maximise work indoors and reduce the time spent in open drydock at Scotstoun , I hope they factored in the height of whatever ship they want to build including future bigger warships . Giant cruise liners can be build in full indoors , so little warships should be easy .