Bitsa Big Boat

[trapezeartist]

A barge passed up the Bristol Channel yesterday carrying two massive prefabricated sections of ship. One part was obviously a bow bulb, and the other part looked like the section immediately above ie the bow around the waterline. The barge was being towed by a Dutch tug and a couple of banners on the side said something about "Aircraft Carrier Alliance".

I wondered what they were for. A couple of bits of aircraft carrier being brought to Avonmouth for some specialised work before going back to the assembly yard? Parts for the repair of a ship in Avonmouth or Portbury? (If so, someone has given it a mighty bump.)

The barge is no longer showing up on AIS so either it's unloaded and left, or switched off the AIS. Is there a drydock in Avonmouth or Portbury that could do such a major repair?

 

[Csail]

Not this one was it?
I saw it.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=244080000&header=true

 

[sarabande]

I understand that Appledore Shipbuilders, taken over by DML are building bits for the new Grey Funnel Line Aircraft Carriers.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvf/

 

[graham]

Re bits of ship

The barge sailed from Apledore where the components are being built but then diverted to Avonmouth to wait for the weather to improve.

It sailed today headed for Rosyth (where the ship is being assembled)With a bulbous bow and focsle head for the new "Queen Elizabeth


If its anything like a B and Q flat pack kitchen they will probably end up with a missing bow section but a spare engine room and the fiddly plastic waste fittings wont fit.

Took some pics will upload later tonight if anyone is interested.

 

[graham]

Pictures

 

[trapezeartist]

Yes, that was the one. So the "Aircraft Carrier Alliance" was right then. It would make sense to dive for shelter somewhere because it didn't look the sort of contraption that would ride heavy weather nicely.

 

[Sneds]

I read about that in the "Evening Post" a Bristol paper .......... thanks for posting the pics