HMS Queen Elizabeth has completed her docking period in Rosyth and left the basin today, prior to heading out for sea trials.
The time spent in Rosyth was part of a planned upkeep period for the ship, which was launched in 2014 and has been in service since 2017. The work began in November 2024 while alongside in Portsmouth and included significant upgrades to the propulsion system, among other engineering projects. HMS Queen Elizabeth left Portsmouth in July 2025 for Rosyth. The docking period was supposed to be around 7 months, but ended up being extended slightly to just over 8 months.
Like most of the fleet, the carriers are subject to Lloyd’s Rules regulatory framework, which mandates that the ship must be inspected in dry dock every 6 years. This safety-based certification requires a survey of the hull, rudders and propellers. In particular, hull valves and sea chests (ie. any underwater openings in the hull) must be checked and repaired if there is corrosion.
At the time of writing, she is at anchor in the river just outside the dockyard, awaiting a tidal window to pass under the Forth Bridges. She will then conduct sea trials before returning to Portsmouth (Photo: Babcock).
The plan to fit the ‘Bedford Array’, a precision aircraft landing aid to support F-35B Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) during the upkeep period, was abandoned. This was partly to save cost but also pending further development of the RN’s hybrid aircraft carrier concept.
Queen Elizabeth has a full ships company, but her future programme is unclear. HMS Prince of Wales is currently at 5 days’ notice to sea and is expected to sail on Operation FIRECREST in the North Atlantic area in the next few weeks.
Passing through the narrow lock to enter or exit the basin at Rosyth is a tricky operation that can only be managed in a tight tidal window and in the right weather conditions. This evolution has, however, been completed successfully on multiple occasions (Photo: Babcock).
This is speculation, but it is possible HMS Queen Elizabeth could go into a reduced readiness state until HMS Prince of Wales next maintenance period. Arguably, getting more availability from the RN’s frigates and destroyers is a more pressing need than having a second carrier at readiness right now. Depending on their material state, ensuring there are crews and funding to get HMS Portland and HMS Iron Duke back to sea would be helpful. In addition, HMS Sutherland has not yet completed FOST or deployed since completing her LIFEX in January 2025. HMS Kent is also due to emerge soon from a major upkeep period.
Main image: 7 tugs are needed to bring a carrier out of the basin. In the background are Type 31 frigates, HMS Active (left) and HMS Venturer (right) under construction. HMS Bangor on the shiplift in the centre (Photo: Babcock).
