VT Delivers Fourth Type 45 Bow Set

VT Group, VT Shipbuilding has delivered the fourth bow section for the Royal Navy’s new Class of Daring Class destroyers to BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow. 
 
The 50-meter section, weighing some 1100 tons, was loaded out from VT’s advanced shipbuilding facilities in Portsmouth Naval Base and placed on a barge which was subsequently towed to Glasgow in a four-day voyage via the Irish Sea. 
 
The bow will now be consolidated with the rest of HMS Dragon, which is under construction by BAE. The funnel and masts, which VT is also building, will follow to Glasgow later this year. 
 
VT has made impressive progress on its programme to supply six ship sets of bows, funnels and masts. With four bows delivered, the remaining two are under construction for delivery next year with VT fulfilling all the prime contractor’s delivery requirements and in some cases handing over sections ahead of the required date. 
 
VT Type 45 Project Director John Richardson explained: “We have made significant improvements in productivity over the course of the programme and, in several cases, exceeded our targets. It has been an impressive demonstration of the capability of the facilities and the team working on the project. 
 
“Our progress means that we will complete our Type 45 work ready for us to concentrate on export orders and the forthcoming aircraft carrier (CVF) project.”  
 
Background Information
 
– The Type 45 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer will provide the backbone of the Royal Navy’s air defence fleet until 2040 and beyond. It is a versatile warship that will provide unprecedented detection and defensive capability, efficiency and living standards when the first of class, HMS Daring, comes into service in 2009. 
 
– BAE Systems is the prime contractor for the multi-billion pound Type 45 programme, which is engaging hundreds of companies from across UK industry and beyond.