UK’s biggest warship suffers propeller shaft damage off south coast after setting sail for US

[Kukri]

I have stolen this from the Woodenboat Forum’s “Bilge” section:

They've been having a few problems with this ship.

Renegotiating the contract mid-build so that the government could hold the builders liable for covering 50% of any cost overruns (as opposed to just 10% before) probably sounded very clever to those in the peanut gallery, and perhaps could have secured the government a few extra votes at the next election.

https://publications.parliament.uk/p...13110656000003

The chances are quite strong that this could have then shifted the builder's focus a little on the cost vs quality spectrum.

Bet the MOD decided against shelling out for the extended warranty option too...!

 

[Bouba]

The main problem with capital ships is how many years they take to design and build and commission...during that time we will have several changes of government, a couple of recessions, a crash, a pandemic etc...so many times the coffers have been bare and paying Paul has left Peter a nervous wreck....meanwhile the Chinese navy is literally churning out ships.
The miracle is the navy have two fleet carriers...even if compromises were made at every stage

 

[Kukri]

The main problem with capital ships is how many years they take to design and build and commission...during that time we will have several changes of government, a couple of recessions, a crash, a pandemic etc...so many times the coffers have been bare and paying Paul has left Peter a nervous wreck....meanwhile the Chinese navy is literally churning out ships.
The miracle is the navy have two fleet carriers...even if compromises were made at every stage

“Here’s one I made earlier…” 32 years ago, in fact. When she was 15, an age at which many ships get scrapped, she was lengthened and gained a fourth hold and a third crane. She had eight sisters, some of them five years younger, but they all went to the knackers at twenty-five or thirty; she was lucky and the market had turned, so she got a refit and will go on to thirty-five. One does sometimes feel affectionate about a lump of steel.

 

[penfold]

I don’t think so....the USN build their ships to a naval standard...whereas most European warships are built to commercial standard...so, similar sized would see American ships heavier

Not so, for the RN at least; periodically commercial methods have been adopted to lower costs but the two are quite different.

Stuff

While the intent of ISM is good, sometimes the effect is to dull the brain and encourage the slack to tick off checklists rather than actually do them or perish the thought actually be seamanlike; the slackjawed stupidity that allowed someone to leave the crane slewed outboard is quite likely to allow the non-checked checklist.

Renegotiating the contract mid-build so that the government could hold the builders liable for covering 50% of any cost overruns (as opposed to just 10% before) probably sounded very clever to those in the peanut gallery, and perhaps could have secured the government a few extra votes at the next election.

Remarkable similarity to the spinning bowtie extravaganza of HS2; someone had the amazing idea of including liability for construction faults out to 30 years in the contracts. Unsurprisingly this inflated the bids somewhat.

 

[capnsensible]

Returning to Pompey this afternoon.

Shipping Movements and Planned Diving | Royal Navy

If you want to watch, try warrior webcam

 

[SaltIre]

 

[Bouba]

Returning to Pompey this afternoon.

Shipping Movements and Planned Diving | Royal Navy

If you want to watch, try warrior webcam

So.....does this mean that they think Prince of Wales can be repaired without going into dry dock?

 

[capnsensible]

@HMSPWLS to be eased back into Portsmouth this afternoon (Passing Round Tower approx 1700). Will spend some time having faulty shaft locked in preparation for journey to Rosyth to be repaired in dry dock. Photo @scottyc298 https://t.co/lJrpZc3prd

 

[Bouba]

@HMSPWLS to be eased back into Portsmouth this afternoon (Passing Round Tower approx 1700). Will spend some time having faulty shaft locked in preparation for journey to Rosyth to be repaired in dry dock. Photo @scottyc298 https://t.co/lJrpZc3prd

Ok..that makes sense...thanks

 

[SaltIre]

Returning to Pompey this afternoon.

Shipping Movements and Planned Diving | Royal Navy

If you want to watch, try warrior webcam

PS Waverley is on hand to provide assistance... (Image from the Cowes webcam)

@HMSPWLS to be eased back into Portsmouth this afternoon (Passing Round Tower approx 1700). Will spend some time having faulty shaft locked in preparation for journey to Rosyth to be repaired in dry dock. Photo @scottyc298 https://t.co/lJrpZc3prd

Eased back? How about limp back...

 

[Martin_J]

The webcam in Ryde (link below) shows the tugs around her now..

And they're all on Marinetraffic

 

[Martin_J]

Although the Railcam in Ryde seems to be following..

 

[SaltIre]

So.....does this mean that they think Prince of Wales can be repaired without going into dry dock?

No.

 

[SaltIre]

@HMSPWLS to be eased back into Portsmouth this afternoon (Passing Round Tower approx 1700). Will spend some time having faulty shaft locked in preparation for journey to Rosyth to be repaired in dry dock. Photo @scottyc298 https://t.co/lJrpZc3prd

Yes.

 

[Martin_J]

Looks like AIS got switched off... but the tugs are still transmitting!

 

[dunedin]

PS Waverley is on hand to provide assistance... (Image from the Cowes webcam)
View attachment 142201

Perhaps they should have fitted steam engines and paddle wheels to our floating white elephants ?

 

[Bajansailor]

Perhaps they should have fitted steam engines and paddle wheels to our floating white elephants ?

If they are thinking about paddles. this lad has some very ingenious ideas - literally re-inventing the paddle wheel.
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Here is one of Ben's recent videos -

Same as how the Roman triremes had hundreds of rowers, one could have hundreds of paddlers

 

[Kukri]

I have to admit that I hadn’t noticed the decommissioning of the King George V Graving Dock at Southampton, in 2006. The point being of course that it could, were it still operating, dry dock the two carriers, just a few miles from Portsmouth.

It was built as a part of the Southern Railway’s vast scheme to modernise Southampton Docks in the 1930s. It was needed for the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth and was built with a Government subsidy.

It’s now used for loading scrap. Sic transit gloria mundi.



And I found this account of its design and construction:

World's Largest Graving Dock - Wonders of World Engineering

 

[Just_sayin']

PS Waverley is on hand to provide assistance... (Image from the Cowes webcam)
View attachment 142201


Eased back? How about limp back...

Waverley is currently broken down on Yarmouth pier?

Ooh, no, just had a call to say she’s now on the way back after 5 hours on the pier … round the island trip was cancelled.

 

[Bouba]

She’s all tied up