Fog Delays US Ship's Test At New Portsmouth Jetty

A major milestone has been reached in getting Portsmouth Naval Base ready for the new aircraft carriers.

On Friday morning, a new jetty was scheduled to be tested by a large American navy ship, the USNS Robert E Peary.

However, the thick fog delayed the arrival of the 40,000 tonne vessel to the late afternoon.

The project has been designed to fit the huge Queen Elizabeth-class carrier – 920 feet long and 230 feet wide – who'll be based here.

Royal Navy Captain Iain Greenlees said:

"The scale is the challenge that the Queen Elizabeth-class bring and that scale means that technology has been required to bridge some of the problems that we can't do."

DIO Project Manager Philip Wise said in a press release:

“I am delighted that the works to the jetty are completed. (...) We are looking forward to seeing the first of the ships berthing against the new and improved jetty later this year.”

The MoD has invested £100m in improvements to the naval base, including a new electrical supply to the base and a bespoke entrance building for people entering and leaving the quay.