One of the Royal Navy’s two giant aircraft carriers is tied up at Belfast Cruise Terminal until Monday. Missed her sailing in? You’ll get one more chance to catch her on Belfast Lough.
Belfast Lough had a seriously big visitor on Wednesday morning. HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the two largest warships in the Royal Navy, sailed in and tied up at Belfast Cruise Terminal.
No aircraft carrier had called at the city since 1965, so it’s no surprise her arrival drew crowds along the shore. People gathered at the Loughshore in Jordanstown to watch her make her way up the lough.
At a glance
- Where: Belfast Cruise Terminal, Airport Road West (near IKEA at Holywood Exchange)
- Until: Monday (12 October). Belfast Harbour is due to post exact departure times on its social media channels over the weekend.
- Best chance of a photo: from the shores of Belfast Lough when she leaves, according to the harbour (via the Irish News)
- Getting close: restrictions are in place around the immediate area of the terminal
By the numbers
- 65,000 tonnes
- 284 metres (932ft) from end to end
- About four acres of flight deck
- Up to 40 aircraft, although the News Letter reports there are none on board at the moment following a recent refit
Work on the ship began at Rosyth in Scotland in 2009, and she was christened in 2014. Earlier this year she became NATO’s command ship for the Allied Response Force, the first time either of the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers has taken on that role. According to Forces News, she’s now on a three-month deployment of training around the UK and northern Europe.
“Something we should all be very proud of”
Belfast Harbour says the ship will stay alongside until Monday. Gary Hall, the harbour’s commercial executive, told the News Letter that the port regularly welcomes Royal Navy and NATO vessels, but never anything of this size.
“This is the first aircraft carrier to call to Belfast since 1965. So when we talk about unusual, this really is unique,” he said. “It’s a really special occasion and something we should all be very proud of.”
He said around 750 of the ship’s company were expected to visit the city during the stay, so don’t be surprised if you spot a few sailors about town. The carrier will also be restocked with supplies while she’s in port.
Port director Michael Robinson told Forces News that the visit took a lot of planning with the Royal Navy. “Not every port can take a ship this size,” he said. A Royal Navy source told the News Letter that Belfast is one of only a few deep-water ports in the UK able to berth her.
Can I go and see her?
Getting up close won’t be easy. The cruise terminal is on Airport Road West, near IKEA at Holywood Exchange, and Belfast Harbour has advised that restrictions are in place around the immediate area.
Your best bet is her farewell. The Irish News reports that, according to the harbour, your best chance of a photo is from the shores of Belfast Lough when she leaves on Monday. Exact departure times are due to be posted on Belfast Harbour’s social media channels over the weekend, so keep an eye out and dig out the binoculars.
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