BAE Systems has honoured Janet Harvey, a World War II shipyard electrician, by naming their new shipbuilding facility in Glasgow the Janet Harvey Hall.
The vast new hall is part of a £300 million transformation project aimed at revolutionising shipbuilding on the River Clyde.
Janet Harvey joined the River Clyde shipyards as an electrician in 1940 at the age of 18, becoming one of the few women working in the predominantly male industry during the war. Her significant contributions were recognised when she was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering by Glasgow Caledonian University at the age of 96. Harvey passed away on Armistice Day in 2023, aged 101.
The Janet Harvey Hall, currently under construction at BAE Systems’ Govan site, is a tribute not only to Harvey’s individual efforts but also to all the women who took on industrial roles during the war.
Jen Blee, Business Operations Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, commented, “It’s fitting that a pioneer such as Janet will remain synonymous with our efforts to re-imagine complex shipbuilding on the upper Clyde. Today, women like Janet are much more commonplace in our yards than they once were, and their numbers and impact continue to grow.”
Janet Harvey is shown below.
Janet’s niece, June Cofflet, expressed the family’s pride, saying, “Janet would have been absolutely delighted to have the ship build hall named after her. She was so very proud of the work she did during the war. As a family, we are delighted that BAE Systems has chosen our aunt’s name to go on the ship build hall; it is a real honour.”
The facility is a key part of BAE Systems’ plan to enhance shipbuilding capabilities in Glasgow. The hall will be large enough to construct two Type 26 frigates side-by-side, using over 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000 cubic metres of concrete. Designed to accommodate up to 500 workers per shift, the hall will feature two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes, enabling efficient and safe shipbuilding regardless of weather conditions.
The Type 26 frigate is an advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare warship, designed for a range of operations including counter-piracy and humanitarian missions. Construction of the first four ships is already underway, with HMS Glasgow, HMS Cardiff, HMS Belfast, and HMS Birmingham at various stages of completion. The project is expected to sustain approximately 1,700 jobs in Scotland and an additional 2,300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain.
The image below shows how it will look.
The Type 26 frigates are designed for anti-submarine warfare, high-intensity air defence, and can be adapted for roles such as humanitarian aid and medical support. The new facility will ensure that these ships are built efficiently and to the highest standards, and a bit quicker too.
The investment in the new shipbuilding hall is expected to sustain approximately 1,700 jobs in Scotland and 2,300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain, contributing to both the local and national economy.
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All we need after it is built is a shipbuilding programme to keep it in use and build up the RN to a more useful size.
Hopefully this will be the case.
Bit of a shame they didn’t name it before her death but nice that they choose her rather than a Royal or toff.
Inspired choice of name for this facility.
I’m really intrigued as to why this shed seems to have a whole row of attached bungalows at the back ? …… for anyone confused by this, just take a look at the main picture.
They look like sheds behind the new hall. Hardly bungalows.
If you mean at the opposite to wet end those are the listed old engine and propulsion workshops.
If I’m remembering rightly.
They are far from small in their own right. The new build hall is just massive!
Just an observation, the blurb states that the hall will be able to house two City Class Frigates side-by-side – but looking at the photo’s, it appears that if they were to launch a Frigate from the hall. it’s radar mast would take a good couple of feet off the roof – or am I getting the perspective wrong?
Radar mast can be craned on outside.
That isn’t a big deal.
No point in make the shed multiples more expensive for a single easily fixable issue.
This is excellent news for 3 reasons at least:
First, incredible thanks to Janet Harvey and her pioneering industrial skills and spirit that will live on. A huge motivator.
Second: The building of these ships are sorely needed.
Third, the revitalization of ship building skills of scale is to be applauded. Continue this trend.
Hopefully, the MoD and Babcock have realised that the frigate refit complex in Devonport isn’t big enough to take either the Type 26s or Type 31s!
Do they install some sort of defence system at these facilities? If they dont it basic common sense that they should be doing!