Glasgow’s first citizen visits the city’s own ship

Britain’s next-generation submarine hunter welcomed Glasgow’s first citizen for a tour of the state-of-the-art warship which will carry the city’s name around the globe.

The Lord Provost and Lord-Lieutenant of Glasgow, the Right Honourable Councillor Philip Braat was shown around HMS Glasgow, the first Type 26 frigate that has been built at BAE Systems’ Govan yard over the next decade.

Holding the honorary rank of Captain in the Royal Navy, and visiting in that capacity, Captain Braat was welcomed by Commander Philip Burgess, the frigate’s Senior Naval Officer alongside the first members of HMS Glasgow’s ship’s company, who themselves had only joined just over three months earlier. 

In addition to gaining an insight into the capabilities that the Type 26 class will deliver to the Royal Navy, Captain Braat also learnt how these trailblazers have been laying the engineering and management foundations for how the new anti-submarine warfare frigates will operate when they enter service later this decade.

“Joining HMS Glasgow at this stage of the ship build is a fantastic opportunity for the ship’s engineering management teams to work closely with our counterparts in both the Ministry of Defence and BAE, effectively working as one team, to ensure the ship enjoys a seamless transition into operational service” explained Commander Burgess.

Following this, Captain Braat was given a guided tour of the Fabrication and Ship Build Outfit Halls to witness first-hand the complex design and manufacturing stages required to build the next generation of Type 26 City-Class frigates, culminating in a walkaround of Glasgow herself.

The ship sits on the standings at Govan having been rolled out of the sheds last year in two giant sections, which have now been joined. With the Duchess of Cambridge – known as the Countess of Strathearn when she’s in Scotland – as her Sponsor, HMS Glasgow is due to enter the water for the first time later this year to complete fitting out at BAE’s yard downstream on the Clyde at Scotstoun.