HMS Queen Elizabeth bridge sets sail

Timlapse video: Watch the forward island go from dock hall to delivery

HMS Queen Elizabeth's forward island section, which contains the bridge, has begun its journey from Portsmouth to the Rosyth dockyard.

The 680 tonne forward island will travel from the dock hall on HM Naval Base Portsmouth for 600 miles along the East coast to Rosyth where final assembly of the aircraft carrier will take place.

The bridge is the first block to depart with final paint colours applied, windows fitted and consoles installed, along with 43km of cables and 3,101 pipes.

The forward island will be lifted onto HMS Queen Elizabeth in March. Once the long range radar has been installed on top the ship will stand taller than the Niagara Falls at 56 metres.

Paul Bowsher, QE Class project leader for BAE Systems in Portsmouth, told employees gathered to wave off the forward island: “Today is a day of celebration - it is both an important and iconic milestone in the programme to build the nation’s new flagships.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to be completed by 2016, with the other aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, following later.

The ships are being delivered by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, a partnership between BAE Systems, Thales UK, Babcock and the Ministry of Defence.