BAE Systems opens new shipbuilding hall in Glasgow

A new ship build hall has officially opened at BAE Systems' shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland.

BAE Systems' newly opened Janet Harvey Hall has capacity for two Royal Navy Type 26 frigates to be constructed side by side. The hall measures 170 metres long and 80 metres wide and has two 100-tonne cranes and an additional two 20-tonne cranes inside.

Currently, HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham are being built in the hall, HMS Glasgow and HMS Cardiff are being outfitted at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun site further up the River Clyde, and steel has been cut on HMS Sheffield.

The hall is designed to accommodate up to 500 workers per shift.

BAE Systems said this new facility will boost its shipbuilding capacity, enabling warships to be built in Glasgow fully undercover for the first time, in turn ensuring that work is unaffected by adverse weather.

The company said the facility will help improve schedule performance and reduce the time between ship deliveries.