HMS Ark Royal Sails Again
UNITED KINGDOM - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009
A faster, leaner and greener HMS Ark Royal takes to the seas again tomorrow (Friday) for the first time since February.
The aircraft carrier has just undergone a £12m upgrade in her home port of Portsmouth and is about to embark on two weeks of post-maintenance tests.
She is heading to the Royal Navys training areas off the south west of England for marine and weapon engineering trials.
During the upgrade her hull was painted with new intersleek paint allowing her to cut through the seas more quickly - which will cut fuel costs and emissions by nine percent. It will also increase her top speed by two knots to 30 knots.
The work, carried out by BVT Surface Fleet, also included new exhaust systems, an updated IT network and improvements to sewage treatment plants. Her gearboxes, main engines and diesel generators have also been refurbished.
Ark Royal will resume her role as Fleet Flagship in the New Year, taking over from her sister ship HMS Illustrious which took on the honour during Ark Royals upgrade. She will also become the UKs high-readiness Strike Carrier.
The ships Commanding Officer, Captain John Clink, said: The ships company is excited and proud to be taking Ark Royal back to sea to commence our preparations to become the Royal Navys Strike Carrier and the UKs Fleet Flagship.
I recognise that our seven months in Portsmouth has been hard work but it has ensured that we are ready to start our sea training and be able to practice our war-fighting skills. The ship is now faster, leaner and greener and looking forward to taking her place at the Vanguard of the Fleet.
Archive Photo: U.K. Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal (R07), Invincible-class aircraft carrier
Source: U.K. Ministry of Defence
UNITED KINGDOM - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009
A faster, leaner and greener HMS Ark Royal takes to the seas again tomorrow (Friday) for the first time since February.
The aircraft carrier has just undergone a £12m upgrade in her home port of Portsmouth and is about to embark on two weeks of post-maintenance tests.
She is heading to the Royal Navys training areas off the south west of England for marine and weapon engineering trials.
During the upgrade her hull was painted with new intersleek paint allowing her to cut through the seas more quickly - which will cut fuel costs and emissions by nine percent. It will also increase her top speed by two knots to 30 knots.
The work, carried out by BVT Surface Fleet, also included new exhaust systems, an updated IT network and improvements to sewage treatment plants. Her gearboxes, main engines and diesel generators have also been refurbished.
Ark Royal will resume her role as Fleet Flagship in the New Year, taking over from her sister ship HMS Illustrious which took on the honour during Ark Royals upgrade. She will also become the UKs high-readiness Strike Carrier.
The ships Commanding Officer, Captain John Clink, said: The ships company is excited and proud to be taking Ark Royal back to sea to commence our preparations to become the Royal Navys Strike Carrier and the UKs Fleet Flagship.
I recognise that our seven months in Portsmouth has been hard work but it has ensured that we are ready to start our sea training and be able to practice our war-fighting skills. The ship is now faster, leaner and greener and looking forward to taking her place at the Vanguard of the Fleet.
Archive Photo: U.K. Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal (R07), Invincible-class aircraft carrier
Source: U.K. Ministry of Defence
