HMS Active rolled out of the build hall at Rosyth this week, and you could feel what it meant to the people there.
The second of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates moved slowly out of Babcock’s Venturer Building, the vast assembly hall where she has taken shape over the past few years. Once clear of the doors, the scale of her really hits you. Steel, angles, the lump of steel looks like a warship now.
Babcock staged the moment with the spectacle it deserved as kne of the most important milestones in recent UK shipbuilding history. Lighting, music, a tightly run programme. But what stood out was the workforce as hundreds gathered to watch. People were smiling, taking photos. It felt more like a party than a routine industrial evolution. They have earned it.
HMS Active has completed her main structural build. From here she moves into final outfitting before being floated out and prepared for sea trials. Systems will be integrated, tested, refined. The long process of turning a hull into a fighting ship continues.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: “These milestones show Scottish shipbuilding at its best. From starting construction for HMS Bulldog to rolling out the impressive HMS Active, this programme is delivering world-class warships for the Royal Navy and real economic benefits for communities across Scotland and the wider UK.”
He added: “The frigates will serve our nation for decades to come, and the skills and infrastructure we’re building here will secure the future of Scottish shipbuilding for generations.”
First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: “HMS Active’s roll-out and HMS Bulldog’s steel cut represent real momentum in delivering the ships the Royal Navy needs. These versatile frigates will be workhorses of the fleet, capable of operating across a wide spectrum of maritime operations.”
He continued: “The Type 31 Inspiration class represents a major step forward in modernising our fleet. These are capable and adaptable ships, designed to give the Royal Navy the flexibility it needs in a fast-changing strategic environment.”
The roll-out happened on the same day steel was cut on HMS Bulldog, the fourth ship in the class. That tells its own story about pace, stay tuned.
The Type 31 programme supports around 1,250 jobs directly, with a similar number across the UK supply chain. More than 400 apprentices have come through partnerships with local colleges.
For Rosyth, this was a visible moment as the doors opened and the ship came out. More importantly, though, a workforce that has put years into this programme got to stand back and see what they have done.
Well done all!
Bloody good news,keep it up!