Aircraft carrier alliance monitor coatings carrier deck thermal metal coating may 2016

May 2016

ACA Monthly News Spotlight on…

Commander Steve Prest, Royal Navy Head of Weapon Engineering officers I am an integral member of the Command Team providing trusted advice to the Command on a full range of issues.

How did your career bring you to where you are today, currently working with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance?

I am a Weapon Engineer Officer and joined the Royal Navy after reading Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Loughborough University. I served in the Defence Communications Services Agency in support of Op TELIC 1 (Iraq); undertook a tour in Afghanistan as a Liaison Officer to Task Force Helmand; and served on exchange with the French Navy.

More recently I was the Weapon Engineer Officer in HMS WESTMINSTER undertaking operations the Mediterranean (Libya), Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Having completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course, I worked in the Maritime Capability Division of Navy Command Headquarters as the Fleet Robotics Officer before joining HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. When did you start working on the QEC programme and what is your current role?

I joined HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in January 2016 as the Commander (Weapon Engineer). I am the Head of the ship’s Weapon Engineering Department and also lead the ship’s media organisation.

What does that involve?

As Cdr (WE) I am responsible for leading the Weapon Engineering Department of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. The weapons engineering departments will be responsible for all the mission systems equipment, once handed over, as well as all of the magazines and munitions handling systems. As one of the Ship’s senior

What are the key challenges of your role?

The key challenge is balancing the demands on our people’s time. There is significant demand for Weapon Engineers to support HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH Testing and Commissioning programme. We don’t see our contractual obligations as a target but, rather, the bare minimum; this is a team sport and we are doing all we can to help the ACA team. In the meantime, we have a significant training programme to achieve to ensure that we are competent, both as individuals and a team, to take this national strategic asset to sea and protect her.

What are you most proud of “Even after 17 years in about your role? the organisation, I am hugely proud to be putting on the uniform an Officer in the each morning still Royal Navy. Even gives me a great after 17 years in the sense of pride.” Cdr organisation, putting on Steve Prest, Head of the uniform each morning Weapon Engineering. still gives me a great sense of pride. I also love being part of a Ship’s Company.

Leading and Commanding sailors is a privilege and a joy.

It has its challenges, to be sure, but the verve, potential and aptitude of our people is inspiring. My job is to ensure that all of those attributes are properly harnessed to deliver HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH ready for operations in defence of our nation’s interests.

What has been the highlight of working on the QEC programme for you?

The highlight of my time so far was walking on board HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH for the first time. She is an amazing ship that we should all rightly be proud of. I am extremely excited about the prospect of taking her to sea for the first time and bringing her home to Portsmouth next year.

Finally, what do you do in your spare time?

I live on the south coast of England so the time I get at home is limited, but I enjoy spending that with my wife and daughter. I enjoy reading and I’m a keen fan of most sports, particularly football and rugby, participating when time and body allow.

Unique thermal metal coating developed Captain Simon Petitt, Senior Naval Officer of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, said: "The new flight deck coating is one of the many 21st Century engineering innovations being incorporated in the Queen Elizabeth Class programme. As the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy, these powerful ambassadors will protect UK interests around the globe for the next 50 years."

The specialist thermal coating is being applied to sections of the vast flight deck of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH using a specially developed robotic spray, which fires powdered metal through a jet of plasma at temperatures of almost 10,000°C (18,000°F). The molten droplets then flatten and quickly solidify, creating a tough but rough coating 22.5 mm thick that is bonded to the steel beneath.

Approximately 2,000 square metres of the 19,000 square metre flight deck will be coated, with the work due to be completed prior to sea trials in early 2017.

An innovative thermal metal coating has been developed specifically by British companies to protect the flight deck of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers from the heat which results from the immense thrust of the engines of the new F-35B Lightning II fighter jets.

Specialist teams from across the Aircraft Carrier Alliance have developed the unique protective coating capable of resisting the high temperature exhaust gases emitted by the new F-35B Lightning II aircraft during its short take-off and vertical landings.

Using a combination of aluminium and titanium, the thermal metal coating can withstand temperatures of up to 1,500°C (2,700°F). The coating, developed in partnership with Monitor Coatings based in Tyne and Wear, is expected to provide long-term protection through the life of the carriers and forms an important part of the work underway to prepare HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH for sea trials next year and flight trials in 2018.

Ian Booth, Managing Director of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, said: “There is incredible momentum behind the programme to prepare HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH for sea trials and integrate the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. Working with experts in the UK, we have developed a unique coating to provide the necessary protection to the flight deck of the aircraft carriers and this will ensure they can deliver the UK’s carrier strike capability for the next fifty years.”

The specialist thermal coating is being applied to sections of the vast flight deck of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH using a specially developed robotic spray, which fires powdered metal through a jet of plasma at temperatures of almost 10,000°C (18,000°F). The molten droplets then flatten and quickly solidify, creating a tough but rough coating 22.5 mm thick that is bonded to the steel beneath.

Approximately 2,000 square metres of the 19,000 square metre flight deck will be coated, with the work due to be completed prior to sea trials in early 2017.

First Sea Captain Joins HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH On leaving the ship for the last time, Captain Petitt said: “It has been an extreme honour to be in charge of the first crew of the Navy’s future flagship and play a small part in shaping how the ship will operate. It is without doubt the pinnacle of my career. In particular watching a shell of a ship develop at pace and a ship’s company grow from 9 to 580 personnel, which I proudly hand over to Captain Kyd to take to sea. I congratulate the Aircraft Carrier Alliance for their tremendous work and my crew, for their support.”

Joining as the Senior Naval Officer of the sister ship HMS PRINCE OF WALES, Captain Ian Groom, said: “Today marks a proud moment in my naval career as I assume responsibility for the rapidly growing ship’s company of HMS Prince of Wales. I am delighted to join at such an exciting time and be part of such a professional dedicated team.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth, will set sail for the first time in early 2017 when she will move to her permanent home on the Princess Royal Jetty in Portsmouth Naval Base, with HMS Prince of Wales following in 2019.

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH has reached a major milestone in her programme with the arrival of the first Commanding Officer, Captain Jerry Kyd. Captain Kyd, who will be responsible for leading the men and women who will operate the 65,000 tonne ship from her future base port, Portsmouth Naval Base, took command of his ship on Tuesday 24 May 2016.

In his first speech to his ship’s “I am extremely proud to company, be leading you as the Captain Kyd ship’s first Captain as we said: “It is a work together with the singular Aircraft Carrier Alliance to honour to sail from Rosyth for sea be taking trials early next year.” command Captain Kyd, Commanding of the crew of our Officer. future Flagship. I am extremely proud to be leading you as the ship’s first Captain as we work together with the Aircraft Carrier Alliance to sail from Rosyth for sea trials early next year.

“We are proud in purpose and focused in our work as we look to the sea and our arrival in our home port of Portsmouth in about a year’s time.”

Although Captain Kyd remains a substantive Commodore, he will follow historical custom and routinely wear the rank of Captain Royal Navy in his role as Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

He takes over from Captain Simon Petitt who has been Senior Naval Officer of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES as they generate through their build programmes.

Specialist Centre to support Aircraft Carriers takes shape

A new centre containing facilities to support the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is nearing completion at Portsmouth Naval Base.

The Queen Elizabeth Class Centre of Specialisation will cover an area of 70,000 square metres – approximately the size of 10 football pitches. It will include a 7,000 square metre Forward Support Centre able to hold 15,000 pallets of medical, mail and naval stores under one roof, a café seating more than 500 people at any one time and a reception centre for all those working on or visiting the carriers.

The centre will house employees of Team Portsmouth, a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, with engineers, logisticians and waterfront staff working alongside each other to plan and deliver the maintenance for these ships.

Mike Howarth, Managing Director for BAE Systems Maritime Services in Portsmouth, said: “At 65,000 tonnes the new carriers are the largest and most complex naval ships built in the UK. It’s essential that they have high quality facilities and highly skilled people to support them.

“This centre will be the home not just for the carriers; it will also be home for the military and civilian people who support them. With improvements to the jetty and construction of a high voltage power station already in its final stages, you can now see that we are well on the way to being ready for HMS Queen Elizabeth’s arrival next year.”

Commodore Jeremy Rigby, Naval Base Commander, said: “The work on the Queen Elizabeth Class centre is yet another tangible milestone in getting the Naval Base ready to support our new aircraft carriers. A huge amount of activity is in train ashore and in the harbour to make sure we are ready to receive HMS Queen Elizabeth.

“These are exciting times for the Naval Base and the wider Portsmouth area as we prepare for these huge ships which have secured the future of the base for the rest of the century.

“BAE Systems is working in partnership with the Royal Navy under the Team Portsmouth banner to improve the QE Class Ships’ Company experience that the carrier’s crew will receive at the waterfront and provide the resources, information, material and facilities they will need in Portsmouth and on operations around the world.”

Mark Lancaster, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, was at Portsmouth Naval Base to see the progress on the infrastructure works.

He said: "This new Centre of Specialisation will ensure that our highly skilled engineers, logisticians and waterfront staff are well supported, and have the facilities they need as Portsmouth becomes the home of the Queen Elizabeth Class Carriers next year.

"Our £100 million investment in the naval base and the arrival of the carriers will support and sustain thousands of jobs across the region.“ The creation of a dedicated area for the carriers forms part of the overall vision for Portsmouth Naval Base – four dedicated areas to support the ships based ships.

For images and videos click here.

Virtual future for Aircraft Carriers

The future of warship support has been revealed at the 13th International Naval Engineering Conference and Exhibition (INEC 2016) in Bristol.

Three apprentices, who work for BAE Systems at Portsmouth Naval Base, entered a paper for the conference’s Sir Donald Gosling Award that shows how virtual reality could have a practical application on the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

A computer-generated simulation of a 3D environment would allow users to physically interact with their surroundings in real time. The technology is known in the commercial sector for its use in the gaming industry.

BAE Systems has developed virtual reality simulations for training and for its world-leading warship design and build. The paper describes how the technology could be also applied to three areas of ship support: design services, training, and business communications.

The work draws on the apprentices’ experiences of developing the support solution for the Queen Elizabeth Class. Ross Basketter and Craig Birchmore are both in the fourth year of their Engineering Technician Apprenticeship. Abbi Fisher is in the third year of her Engineering Technician Apprenticeship and all are currently working on the Queen Elizabeth Class Readiness Programme.

INEC, a major international conference for naval engineers, is an Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) Learned Society event. The paper was one of 23 presented to the Sir Donald Gosling Award judging panel.

Judging Panel Chairman John Newell, who is also Head of Queen Elizabeth Class Support at BAE Systems, said: “The sheer size and complexity of the new carriers present support staff with a challenge both in finding their way around the ship and in supporting the ship’s systems.

“This paper highlights ““This paper highlights the the opportunity that opportunity that virtual virtual reality offers reality offers in building in building intimate knowledge of the intimate ship from ashore,” John knowledge of the Newell, Head of Queen ship from ashore, Elizabeth Class Support, assists in designing BAE Systems. future changes to the ships and helps with planning support activities amongst many potential benefits to improve effective and efficient delivery of support.”

Did you see the carriers in the news?

On Thursday 19 May the Aircraft Carrier Alliance hosted some journalists from national and international media outlets in Rosyth.

The ACA and Royal Navy provided a briefing about the programme, followed by a tour of both HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES. The tour gave national media (including FT, Bloomberg, BBC, The Sun, Daily Mail, Mirror and Telegraph) access to completed compartments, including an accommodation area, Junior Rates galley, flight deck and bridge on ship 1, plus onto the flight deck of ship 2.

This gave us the opportunity to unveil the new thermal metal coating technology developed by the ACA to protect the flight deck from the landing and take-off of the F35B Lightning II (see article p2).

Here’s just some of the positive coverage from over the weekend.

Willie McLachlan says goodbye by raising £11,000 for charity “We raised around £11,000 at the ball and I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of our sponsors and guests who have invested their time and money to raise vital funds for the selected charities.”

Around 300 guests danced the night away on Friday at the Aircraft Carrier Alliance Charity Ball held in the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.

Willie’s dedication to charity and £2 million raised has not gone unnoticed as he was awarded an MBE for his commitment and service to charity in 2011. On being made a Member of the British Empire Willie commented: “Charitable work has become a way of life for me, whether it’s organising a fundraising event or devoting time to help with projects. Meeting the people who benefit from donations, no matter how small or large, and seeing the difference we can make to those who are less fortunate makes it all worthwhile. I was overwhelmed to be recognised in this way and feel very honoured and grateful.”

The glamorous event saw workers at the Alliance trade in their overalls and hardhats for black ties and tiaras while raising money for RNRMC, CHAS, St Margaret’s Hospice, Motor Neuron Disease Scotland & Prostate Charity UK. The Ball’s guests were treated to a glittering array of entertainment by Diego, a brilliant band with a set encompassing 50s classics to modern chart toppers, which got the crowd on their feet from the first to the last beat. Guests were also given the opportunity to bid for some fantastic prizes including an iPad, a fourball at Gleneagles and an overnight stay at the Grand Central Hotel.

Over the years, Willie has organised hundreds of fundraising events, from golf tournaments and abseils to charity cycles and auctions, both outside of work and with the company however the ball will hold a special place in Willie’s heart not only because it was the first Alliance event, but because it was the last charity event he will organise before retiring from BAE Systems on Thursday following 40 years of service. Willie started his career in Glasgow in 1976 and joined the Aircraft Carrier Alliance in Rosyth in 2012. Over the years he has played an integral part in driving down accidents and making our sites safer and for that we will always be grateful.

The event was organised by SHE Manager and longtime charity fundraiser Willie McLachlan. Willie has devoted the past 35 years to raising funds and giving time to a number of charitable organisations close to his heart so it was no surprise when he came up with the idea to host an Alliance Ball to not only raise funds for charity but also bring together workers from across the industry partners for a night of fun and dancing.

Willie told us “This is the 8th “No one can comprehend time I have organised a how life can change in a charity ball of this second and I encourage nature and I can others to get involved in honestly say helping children and families this was by far up and down the country get the best. The most the support and care they important thing is the need so they can make every beneficiaries of the moment count.”

Willie money raised, anything McLachlan, SHE Manager. we can do to make life a bit easier for them is hugely rewarding. I have been involved with various charities for many years and have seen the amazing work they can do caring for those in need as well as supporting the families. No one can comprehend how life can change in a second and I encourage others to get involved in helping children and families up and down the country get the support and care they need so they can make every moment count.

Willie said “I have met some “I have met some wonderful colleagues over wonderful colleagues the years who I am now over the years who I proud to call friends am now proud to call and I would like to take friends.”

Willie this opportunity to thank McLachlan, SHE all of them for making my Manager. time both in Glasgow and Rosyth an experience I will never forget.”

Pupils get a crash course in engineering

Babcock STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Ambassadors including graduates have been hosting a number of learning and development sessions at Rosyth. Last month over 60 Primary 1 pupils from East Craigs Primary School attended learning and development sessions at the ACA Viewing Area to take part in team building activities tailored to wider aspects of engineering.

Supported by the ambassador’s and graduates, the pupils were involved in a range of activities that saw them working together building a Lego model of an aircraft carrier striving towards the same goal and a better understanding of engineering.

Babcock’s Lead Detail Planner Agata Knuta said “As part of the school’s learning and development curriculum events such as these create an opportunity to plant the seed which can flourish and beat the discouraging forecasts of shortages of engineers in the future.”

“East Craig Primary School was grateful for the opportunity and thank the Babcock team for their time and efforts.”

A special thanks goes out to: Mavis Amadi, Stephanie Ferguson Ross Brewster David Campbell Mark Hanlin David Burnett Lisa Brown.

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