On Sunday 25th November 2009, HMS Astute slipped quietly of of BAE System's yard in Barrow in Furness heading for her new home at the Faslane naval base on the west coast of Scotland.
The Royal Navy has finally taken possession of the first new class of submarine launched for 17years, and as you know, one with which the Joiners and Ceilers Company has now a close affiliation.
The captain of Astute, Commander Andy Coles who we had the pleasure of entertaining at the Salters Hall last month, was we are told, champing at the bit to see what his new vessel was capable of on its voyage to its new home.
Astute's specifications are heaven for lovers of big numbers, it is 97 metres long, the equivalent of 10 London buses, and weighs 7400 tonnes It has the computor processing powers of 2200 laptops The nuclear reactor which drives the propulsion system is only the size of a Dustbin but will last for the 30 years, the programmed life of the boat.
The Astute is the first of perhaps 7 seven similar boats , and is the first of the 3 currently commissioned submarines, Astute, Ambush and Artful to come off the production line.
It is hoped that the Boat will be officially launched in early Spring following extensive sea trials in the Atlantic in early 2010. The Joiners will hope to be there, to wish it and it's crew a safe voyage.