First Dreadnought hull transported for completion
The first pressure hull for Boat 1 of the Dreadnought programme has been moved ready for its final fittings before being added to the finished submarine.
The massive piece of equipment was moved by BAE Systems on a truck through the streets of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, escorted by local police, to the Devonshire Dock Hall where it will be outfitted.
The Dreadnought programme will replace the four submarines that currently provide the UK's Trident nuclear missile continuous-at-sea deterrent, the existing Vanguard fleet.
It will see four new submarines, built in the UK, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, introduced from the 2030s, with a lifespan of about 30 years.
A BAE Systems spokesman said: "A great moment for teams delivering the Dreadnought programme at our submarines business in Cumbria.
"The first pressure hull unit for Boat 1 has been transported to the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow for outfitting before being integrated into the finished submarine."
Barrow MP Simon Fell praised the work and described how it would affect the nation's future.
"It is remarkable to see the physical manifestation of one of the most challenging engineering feats in the world rolling through Barrow's streets," he said.
"The national endeavour that Barrovians work to deliver each and every day will keep us, and our allies, safe for generations to come.
"We should all be incredibly grateful to the skilled teams in the shipyard who quietly get on with the job of delivering the guarantee of future peace."
He added: "This unit represents some of the most complex engineering on the planet, all taking place in Barrow, and which, once assembled, will keep us and our allies safe for a generation."
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