Boris Johnson called to revive hopes for mega dry dock for Royal Navy aircraft carriers in Portsmouth

BORIS Johnson is facing ‘urgent’ calls to revive a bid to build a mega dry dock capable of housing Britain’s two new aircraft carriers in Portsmouth.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Excited city leaders previously claimed the project could create up to 100 jobs and bring £1bn to Portsmouth over the next decade.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, talk of the overhaul has stagnated, with the Ministry of Defence saying it has ‘no current plans’ for a dry dock for the carriers.

Pictured: HMS Queen Elizabeth as she passes HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth dockyard last year. 
  
Picture: Habibur RahmanPictured: HMS Queen Elizabeth as she passes HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth dockyard last year. 
  
Picture: Habibur Rahman
Pictured: HMS Queen Elizabeth as she passes HMS Prince of Wales in Portsmouth dockyard last year. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Now Labour’s shadow defence procurement minister, Stephen Morgan, has demanded the prime minister steps in.

In a letter to the PM – seen by The News – the Portsmouth South MP asked for an ‘urgent reply’ and said: ‘I am today writing to reiterate the reasons for building a dry dock facility in Portsmouth and kindly request that an urgent response is drafted to my request.

‘Locating a dry dock facility in Portsmouth makes strategic sense due to the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers being located there, and the city already being established as the heart and home of the Royal Navy.

Read More
Royal Navy to halve number of office staff in Portsmouth in bid to boost front l...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘The economic benefits it would bring to the city have the potential to be transformative and would give a much-needed fiscal boost to Portsmouth.’

Under proposals considered last year, Portsmouth Naval Base’s Number 2 Basin could have been converted into a new super dry dock.

Speaking at the time, a spokeswoman for the Royal Navy confirmed they were looking at a dry dock proposal but said it was ‘far too early to have any indication of the results’.

But last night a navy spokeswoman said: ‘The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to construct a dry-dock facility for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Plans for a long-term in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers are under consideration as part of the common support model for complex warships.’

The MoD added routine repair and refitting of the two £3.1bn supercarriers, that didn’t require a dry dock, would still take place at Portsmouth Naval Base.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.