Keel ceremony marks milestone in submarine Dreadnought's construction

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer performed the honours as work started on the backbone of the first of four third-generation ballistic missile submarine in Barrow, nearly ten years since the first steel was cut.

To mark the key moment in the boat’s construction – and to honour more than 150 years of shipbuilding in the town, 125 of them building submarines for the Royal Navy – His Majesty the King bestowed the honorary title ‘Royal’ on the Port of Barrow

Senior political, military and shipbuilding figures, plus some of the thousands of people involved in the Dreadnought programme, gathered in the yawning Devonshire Dock Hall at BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art submarine construction and assembly facility for a short ceremony. 

They were treated to a combination of naval pomp and ceremony – cue a cadet band – and glitzy animations and displays hinting at what to expect when the boat is completed.

Keel laying itself is largely symbolic with modern methods of warship construction; first steel was cut for Dreadnought nearly a decade ago and huge sections have already been completed.

“This keel laying ceremony is considered the ‘birth’ of a vessel and I congratulate all those involved across the Alliance for reaching this important milestone in the life of HMS Dreadnought and look forward to bringing this exciting and highly capable submarine into service,” said First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key.

“Whilst the Vanguard Class of submarines continues to deliver our Continuous At-Sea Deterrent today, the Royal Navy is greatly looking forward to operating highly sophisticated and advanced Dreadnought Class submarines.”

Displacing more than 17,000 tonnes, the length of 14 buses and with a crew of around 130, HMS Dreadnought will be the most-advanced boats of their kind in service anywhere, featuring – for the first time – ‘adaptive’ lighting to simulate day and night on board.

With a lifespan of in excess of 30 years, the four boats will carry the Silent Service past the century milestone of undertaking the nation’s No.1 military mission.

Royal Navy submariners have borne the responsibility of the aptly-named Operation Relentless 24/7/365 since 1969.

Building the Dreadnought class is a national endeavour, with some 30,000 people involved in the project from design through to delivery, with the construction phase of the four submarines – HMS Valiant, Warspite and King George VI follow the first in class – expected to take 20 years.

The boats themselves are being built in 16 ‘units’ which, when ready are grouped into three ‘mega units’ and moved to the Devonshire Dock Hall for assembly; the first ‘mega block’ of Dreadnought was delivered in the autumn of 2023.

Dreadnought is due to begin her deterrent patrols next decade as the existing V-boats (the oldest, Vanguard, is already 33 years old, the youngest, Vengeance, 27) are phased out.

During his visit to Barrow, the premier met some of the crew of HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute-class submarine which is nearing completion.

For much of its operational life, ‘Aggie’ will form part of the multi-layered defence around the strategic deterrent, from RAF Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to new Type 26 frigates (under construction on the Clyde), Merlin Mk2 submarine hunting helicopters, and a string of uncrewed systems and subsea sensors.

To underline the commitment to the nuclear deterrent – present and future – the prime minister and Defence Secretary John Healey joined a Vanguard-class boat returning from patrol to its home at HMNB Clyde earlier this week.

Accompanied by Admiral Sir Ben Key, the PM boarded the boat as it returned to UK waters – known as ‘a Day Zero’ – to thank submariners for their months of silent service.

Once back at the naval base, the VIPs collectively thanked families for their resilience and forbearance being alone and out-of-contact with loved ones for months on end.