MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Royal Navy's largest ever vessel leaks: some 200 liters of water per hour
HMS Queen Elizabeth reportedly has a major defect with the stern seal which surrounds its huge propeller shafts. 
The seal keeps the water out but sea trials have shown that it leaks 200 liters of water per hour, a defect which might force it to go to Portsmouth Harbor (Agencies) 
It is the latest setback for the Navy had to deal with technical problems with its fleet of Type 45 Destroyers which break down in hot weather. The Royal Navy's new multi-billion pound aircraft carrier has a leak so big that hundreds of liters of seawater pour into it each hour which could cost millions to fix. HMS Queen Elizabeth reportedly has a major defect with the stern seal which surrounds its huge propeller shafts.
The seal keeps the water out but sea trials have shown that it leaks 200 liters of water per hour, a defect which might force it to go from its dock in Portsmouth Harbor, to a dry dock, the Sun reported.
At a price tag of £3.1bn, this could mean millions more pounds being spent on Britain's largest ever war ship before its maiden voyage.
Although the manufacturer, Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA), will foot the initial bill, future repairs may have to paid for by the taxpayer.
It is the latest setback for the Navy had to deal with technical problems with its fleet of Type 45 Destroyers which break down in hot weather. Also, proposed spending cuts by the government could see fewer Royal Marines, and amphibious assault ships.
The Royal Navy confirmed that an issue with a shaft seal was discovered and that “this is scheduled for repair while she is alongside at Portsmouth.
”It does not prevent her from sailing again and her sea trials program will not be affected,“ a spokesman said.
Meanwhile a spokesman for ACA said: ”HMS Queen Elizabeth has been accepted into Her Majesty's fleet. It is normal practice for a volume of work and defect resolution to continue following vessel acceptance.
“This will be completed prior to the nation's flagship re-commencing her program at sea in 2018.”
The vessel is 932-feet long and weighs 65,000 tons. It was commissioned into the fleet by the Queen earlier in December.
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Read all comments200 litres per hour - wow!!!! and how much water is generated by condensation??? and how much water would it take on in a heavy sea breaking over the decks??
Dec 19th, 2017 - 02:54 pm +3This is what ships have bilges and bilge pumps for.
FFS....It never fails....All these fountains of knowledge just cant help themselvs.....Anyone who has spent ANY time at sea are all to familiar with the “packing around the tail shaft” ......“weeping”...There was NEVER a vessel built that did'nt at some time or another have to deal with this....and YES..thats what bildge pumps are all about.....!
Dec 19th, 2017 - 05:57 pm +2The Voice
Dec 19th, 2017 - 06:18 pm +2We require these vessels because the world is a dangerous place. It would be nice if everyone in the world lay down their weapons and hugged each other, but that is never going to happen.
People have been sidetracked from the real threat by international terrorism, which is minor league stuff, yet the biggest threat to NATO and the UK is Russia and China. Therefore the UK needs to be able to project it's power beyond it's own borders, because waiting until the Russians are at the English Channel is far too late. We tried being defensive in 1939, and then the Germans just blitzkrieged the continent and lead to a protracted war that cost the estimated lives of over 50 million people worldwide.
Putin and his ilk are only impressed by strength. Why do you think he's working so hard to destroy the USA by using his puppet Trump? So the UK needs to have serious weapons that can have a serious response to any move that Putin can make. And that means having the capability to project ourselves anywhere in the world. Because neither the Russians, the Chinese or the North Koreans are cutting back on their military spending...they're increasing it. And they're not increasing it on defensive weaponry but on offensive weaponry.
So that is why we need aircraft carriers. That is why we need the most advanced aircraft. That is why we need a nuclear deterrent. That is why we need the most advanced destroyers, submarines etc... That is why we need the best tanks, artillery pieces and the best trained people in the world. And all of that costs money.
On the day that humanity learns to live together in peace, I'll be the first to suggest that we dismantle our defences and start building kiddie creches and kidney machines. But I have a feeling I'll be long dead before that happens.
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