In a painstaking operation which took almost 48 hours, HMS Clyde was carefully loaded onto tractor conveyor units and transported some 100 yards to the barge VT Woolston, moored adjacent to the main VT shipbuilding hall.

The ship was slowly wheeled onto the barge and sea fastenings welded into place. The barge was then moved to neighbouring Dock 14, where 64,000 tons of water had to be pumped out.

With barge and ship sitting on the bottom, the sea fastenings were disconnected, the dock was refilled with water and the ship floated free of the ballasted barge and towed into an adjoining basin. The dock was then pumped out again and the ballast removed from the barge.

The dock was then refilled and the barge returned to the main basin. HMS Clyde was then towed back into the dock for fitting out over the next few months ahead of an official naming in September, followed by sea trials and a handing over in late October. The ship is expected to be on station in the South Atlantic by next summer.

A unique feature of HMS Clyde is that it remains owned by VT Group and chartered to the Ministry of Defence for five years. At the end of that period, the MoD can either extend the charter, return the ship or purchase it outright.

Without being required to make capital expenditure, the MoD receives a brand new ship to replace two ageing ones.

Under the leasing arrangement, VT is responsible for a full Contractor Logistic Support (CSL) package through a 24/7 global maintenance commitment which includes repairs and spares for the duration of the lease.

HMS Clyde is an enhanced River Class design with a helicopter deck, increased watertight subdivisions and active fin stabilisers for improved seakeeping and an expanded envelope for helicopter operations.

It will sprint to 21 knots, make 19 knots fully loaded, and has a range of 5,500nm at 12 knots.

MJInformation No: 22019