Yesterday, Baltic’s team of Engineers were invited to step on board and join the sailors on Royal Navy’s largest aircraft carrier following our work at the Liverpool Cruise Terminal.
The Queen Elizabeth-class warship brought about 800 crew to the city to receive the highest honour it can bestow – Freedom of the City.
The visit is Prince of Wales’ second to Liverpool, and sections of the ship were built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on the other side of the River Mersey.
HMS Prince of Wales arrived on Sunday morning with crew members who hail from the city particularly interested to show off the nation’s flagship to loved ones.
HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and the Fleet Flagship of the Royal Navy.
Unlike most large aircraft carriers, Prince of Wales is not fitted with catapults and arrestor wires, and is instead designed to operate STOVL aircraft; the ship is currently planned to carry up to 48 F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole fighters and Merlin helicopters for airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare, although in surge conditions the class is capable of supporting 70+ F-35B.
The design emphasises flexibility, with accommodation for 250 Royal Marines and the ability to support them with attack helicopters and troop transports up to and larger than Chinook size.
