BAE Systems has officially opened the new ship build hall in Govan, Scotland, where new Royal Navy Type 26 frigates are being constructed.
The Janet Harvey Hall on the bank of the Clyde river just west of the centre of Glasgow measures 170m long and 80m wide.
With capacity for two Type 26 frigates to be constructed side-by-side, it currently houses the future HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham. The first two ships in the class, HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff, are being fitted out at the firm’s Scotstoun site slightly further downriver.
The colossal cutting-edge hall, named after one of the many women who took on vital industrial roles during World War Two, features two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes inside; the space will accommodate up to 500 workers at a time.
The new facility represents a key aspect of the £300m modernisation of BAE Systems’ Glasgow facilities, helping to reduce the time between ship deliveries as the firm builds eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy.
At the end of the ceremony, in a symbolic gesture Janet’s nieces joined the Lord Provost to cut a ribbon strung across the massive hall’s door.
Type 26 Resident Project Officer Stephen Charlick, of the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation, commented: “Protecting the United Kingdom and its interests from evolving global threats requires state-of-the-art vessels like the Type 26 frigate and the investment by our industry partner, BAE Systems, underscores the commitment to equipping our armed forces.
The Janet Harvey Hall brings an improved approach to warship assembly and outfit, driving quality throughout the build, and this approach supports regular delivery of vessels in line with the Royal Navy need.”
And Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business Simon Lister added: “The Janet Harvey Hall marks a major step forward for shipbuilding in Glasgow and will help enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come.”
- You can read more details on the BAE Systems website
