Intermarine completes pontoon for RN carriers
Intermarine UK has completed the construction of a floating platform for the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
It has built a 24x12 metre pontoon that will be moored to the stern of either HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales when anchored in Portsmouth, UK, allowing crew and passengers to board and disembark at the rear of the ship.
Intermarine UK, part of Polish-owned Inter Marine Group, opened a 2,000sqm fabrication and welding facility at Portland Port on England’s south coast at the start of 2018, and over the past year has spent in excess of £500,000 equipping the site with machinery.
The pontoon was built in four sections over a period of two-and-a-half months. Each part was then bolted together to create a floating platform with a lightship displacement of 86 tonnes. The bolted I-section framework in the middle of the pontoon carries a soft patch deck area of approximately 16x6 metres.
Prior to establishing its production facility the company was tasked with aligning and joining up sections of the two carriers.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones]()
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
-
![Global submarine suppliers compete for a rapidly shrinking market]()
Global submarine suppliers compete for a rapidly shrinking market
Diminishing submarine competitions worldwide are leaving fewer acquisition opportunities, pushing contractors toward alternatives.
-
![Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge]()
Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge
New Zealand’s evaluation of the Mogami and Arrowhead 140 frigate designs reflects a wider push for alliance interoperability, and points to a larger recapitalisation of the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet beyond the current programme.
-
![Industry agreements point to growing interest in Danish hybrid fleet concept]()
Industry agreements point to growing interest in Danish hybrid fleet concept
Babcock’s new Danish industry agreements have reignited debate over whether Copenhagen is edging towards a hybrid fleet blending crewed frigates with autonomous systems.
