Devonshire Dock Hall
Encyclopedia
Devonshire Dock Hall is a large shipbuilding hall
that forms part of the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in the Barrow Island area of Barrow-in-Furness
, Cumbria
, England.
Constructed in 1986 for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, the covered assembly facility was named Devonshire Dock Hall (after the dock that lies next to it), it was completed by Alfred McAlpine plc
on land that was created by infilling part of the Devonshire Dock with 2.4 million tonnes of sand pumped from nearby Roosecote Sands. DDH is the tallest building in Cumbria at 51 m. With a length of 260 m (853 ft), width of 58 m (190.3 ft) and an area of 25000 square metres (269,097.8 sq ft) it is also the second largest indoor shipbuilding construction complex of its kind in Europe
. Due to its size, Devonshire Dock Hall is visible from miles around, most notably from the Blackpool Promenade
which is over 20 miles away.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was known colloquially as "Maggie's Farm" in reference to the then Prime Minister of the UK Margaret Thatcher
, whose Conservative Party government were upgrading the UK's submarine launched nuclear weapons from Polaris/Poseiden to the Trident system on board the Vanguard class boats.
DDH provides a controlled environment for ship and submarine assembly, and avoids the difficulties caused by building on the slope of traditional slipways. Outside the hall, a 24,300 tonne capacity shiplift
allows completed vessels to be lowered into the water independently of the tide. Vessels can also be lifted out of the water and transferred to the hall. The first use of the DDH was for construction of the Vanguard-class
submarines . The shipyard is currently constructing the Astute-class submarines
the first of which was launched on 8 June 2007. As of April 2011, the Royal Navy submarines , , and are all under construction inside Devonshire Dock Hall.
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
that forms part of the BAE Systems Submarine Solutions shipyard in the Barrow Island area of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, England.
Constructed in 1986 for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, the covered assembly facility was named Devonshire Dock Hall (after the dock that lies next to it), it was completed by Alfred McAlpine plc
Alfred McAlpine
Alfred McAlpine plc was a British construction firm headquartered in London. It was a major road builder, and constructed over 10% of Britain's motorways, including the M6 Toll...
on land that was created by infilling part of the Devonshire Dock with 2.4 million tonnes of sand pumped from nearby Roosecote Sands. DDH is the tallest building in Cumbria at 51 m. With a length of 260 m (853 ft), width of 58 m (190.3 ft) and an area of 25000 square metres (269,097.8 sq ft) it is also the second largest indoor shipbuilding construction complex of its kind in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Due to its size, Devonshire Dock Hall is visible from miles around, most notably from the Blackpool Promenade
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
which is over 20 miles away.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was known colloquially as "Maggie's Farm" in reference to the then Prime Minister of the UK Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, whose Conservative Party government were upgrading the UK's submarine launched nuclear weapons from Polaris/Poseiden to the Trident system on board the Vanguard class boats.
DDH provides a controlled environment for ship and submarine assembly, and avoids the difficulties caused by building on the slope of traditional slipways. Outside the hall, a 24,300 tonne capacity shiplift
Shiplift
A shiplift is a modern alternative for a slipway, a floating dry dock or a graving dry dock. A shiplift is used to dry dock and launch ships. It consists of a structural platform that is lifted and lowered exactly vertical, synchronously by a number of hoists...
allows completed vessels to be lowered into the water independently of the tide. Vessels can also be lifted out of the water and transferred to the hall. The first use of the DDH was for construction of the Vanguard-class
Vanguard class submarine
The Vanguard class are the Royal Navy's current nuclear ballistic missile submarines , each armed with up to 16 Trident II Submarine-launched ballistic missiles...
submarines . The shipyard is currently constructing the Astute-class submarines
Astute class submarine
The Astute-class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. The class sets a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at...
the first of which was launched on 8 June 2007. As of April 2011, the Royal Navy submarines , , and are all under construction inside Devonshire Dock Hall.