English: The forward island of HMS Queen Elizabeth left Portsmouth bound for Scotland where she will be joined to the rest of the Royal Navy’s future flagship.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (pennant number R08) will be the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of aircraft carrier, and is scheduled to commence sea trials in 2017 and flight trials in 2018.[6] She will be the second Royal Navy vessel to bear the name HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The structure began its 550-mile journey to Rosyth, Scotland, where the rest of the ship has been assembled in the specially-extended Dock No.1.

Watching the departure of the 680-tonne island, which took four days to secure to the barge and has been weather-proofed for its first sea voyage, were many of the BAE workers who built it.

She is the first block to depart with her final paint colours applied, all windows fitted and consoles installed, along with 43km of cables and 3,101 pipes. She also displays the HMS Queen Elizabeth crest.

The 680 tonne forward island will be lifted onto HMS Queen Elizabeth in March and stand taller than the Niagara Falls at 56 metres after the Long Range Radar has been installed on top.

• Organization: ROYAL NAVY
• Object Name: FX130055093
• Category: RNA
• Supplemental Categories: Ships, Aircraft Carriers
• Keywords: Solent, HMNB Portsmouth, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Equipment, Ship, Aircraft Carrier, Royal Navy, Queen Elizabeth class, Tug
• Country: UK