New Royal Navy logistics centre opens in Portsmouth

A brand new Royal Navy logistics centre in Portsmouth was officially opened this week. The facility is dedicated almost exclusively to the essential maintenance and logistical support of the Navy's two Queen Elizabeth Carrier aircraft carriers. Although some work will also be carried out on other naval ships and equipment there.

The project was secured with a £7 million contract with Francis Construction and BAE Systems and is part of a wider project which has invested more than £350 million into the naval base at Portsmouth. The scheme has created hundreds of jobs.

The centre, which is located alongside the base port’s carrier berths, was opened on Monday by the government's Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin.

The centre has been built with sustainability in mind and is totally future proofed. As such, it will support the UK’s Net Zero 2050 requirements. The facility is also poised to be the very first building in Britain built using Rigid Inclusion, where structural columns are embedded into the ground to reinforce weak soils. This leads to less disturbance and better ground settlement.

Defence Procurement Minister Quin had this to say about the move: "The Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers are the flagships of our Royal Navy, providing critical at-sea protection of the UK and our allies."

"Ensuring we can provide quick and efficient logistical support to our Royal Navy vessels is crucial to maintaining our resilience and operational advantage. I’m delighted to unveil a new facility dedicated to serving and preserving our Queen Elizabeth Carrier vessels throughout their 50-year lifespan."

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