Government plan "national flagship"

[adam2]

Sounds a great idea to me, I am in favour of promoting British interests, and a ship is almost certainly greener than air transport.

Could be perhaps be greener than is suggested by the images. I see no indication of either sails nor of PV modules.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57293882

[Mark]

I think it's a rotten way to spend £200m, although we all know the final bill will end up being much higher....
How about spending the money on properly compensating all those people with cladding problems post Grenfell... or, or, or, or.....

There are elements in this country who still haven't accepted that we no longer have an empire and the world has moved on...
The modern foreign CEO isn't going to be 'wowed' into signing a big new deal because of a G&T with Prince William on there...
Particularly as their yacht will be x3 bigger....

[clv101]

Seems rather pointless. Who is it going to impress? Ships are SLOW, what can it do that our embassies can't?

It's not that much money though, it's just another Royal Navy ship, a comfortable one. Compare £200m for a ship that'll last decades with £37bn for the useless track and trace programme.

[Mark]

I hear that BoJo is delaying his honeymoon to Carrie.....
Maybe he's planning a cruise ?

[BritDownUnder]

Maybe it could be hydrogen powered or biogas powered. It does not appear to have suitable masts for sails but it could have one of those kite thingys to help propulsion (unfortunately developed in Germany).

From memory, the Royal Yacht Britannia was purportedly meant to be used as a hospital ship in times of war. So far I have not heard mention of the proposed national flagship being intended for such use.
It made the Australia morning TV news today.

[adam2]

Both biogas and hydrogen are bulky and dangerous to store.
Diesel fuel is the obvious choice, but preferably supplemented with sails or solar power in order to reduce fuel consumption.

If all suitable surfaces were covered with solar modules, then considerable power could be produced.

I would favour electric transmission for several reasons.
1) Flexible layout, engines can be placed where convenient.
2) Economical speed control, a variable pitch propeller and a variable speed electronic drive can move the ship at any reasonable speed.
3) Economical production of electric power for auxiliary purposes, if say 800 kw is required for propulsion and say 100 kw for on board services, then both are supplied from the same large high efficiency engine, rather than running a separate diesel generator. Several engines would be specified, with number in use controlled automatically.

4) Reliable operation. Low speed induction motors are very reliable. No reduction gearing needed. The variable speed motor drives can be duplicated.
Engines can be a weak point, but can be at least triplicated, 4 or more is common.

5) Waste heat is easy to capture for space heating, water heating, and for low pressure evaporators to produce fresh water.

Whilst most voyages will be fairly short, this ship should in my view be designed to stay at sea for at least a year WITHOUT RESUPPLY in case of emergency.

[Mark]

I admire your ambition adam, but doubt any of your ideas will match the reality....
This will just be a willy waving vanity project.

[Mark]

Price tag for new flagship royal yacht could hit £250m:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58002977

Our corrupt government has no money for loads of important issues....
But they're more than happy to splash out on a floating gin palace - the bill is already up from £200m to £250m....

[adam2]

Plans now dropped. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63547568

[Potemkin Villager]

Has the government reached peak u-turns yet I wonder?

Actually I would say they have a way to go! Every time I imagine
things cannot possibly get even more dysfunctional they do.

[BritDownUnder]

I suppose if you had a "National Yacht" then it would turn into a pi$$ing competition with Gulf autocrats and even Russian oligarchs about who has the biggest one.

Perhaps a small rowing boat for the present circumstances.

[Vortex2]

Plans now dropped. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63547568

Few people realise that the Royal Yacht has a major defence equipment display on its lower decks.
It is (was) used to market British defence kit .. thuis supporting British jobs, industry etc.

[BritDownUnder]

Yes and before his scandalous days Prince Andrew was one of the main advocates for British defence.

It must be said that the French defence industry far outweighs the UK defence industry with the UK actually being a net importer of defence items much like many other sectors running a trade deficit.

[kenneal - lagger]

Yes and before his scandalous days Prince Andrew was one of the main advocates for British defence.

It must be said that the French defence industry far outweighs the UK defence industry with the UK actually being a net importer of defence items much like many other sectors running a trade deficit.

This is a product of UK economic thinking. If it can be imported cheaper that is the way to go. No strategic thought at all, no "Can we import that in time of war?" No "Can we import that in time of shortage?"

So we have a home food supply only sufficient for 50% of our needs. Economists clearly don't remember the convoys of WW2 and the rationing that went with them. They clearly don't remember the rice shortages of a decade or so ago when rice exporting countries banned exports feeding rapid price increases of other grain products as countries switched grains. They clearly don't remember Putin stopping Ukraine's grain exports only a few months ago. Is it only UK economists who are so insular, naive and possibly thick?

As far as defence imports go the dangers of a Trump run or even Trumpist run US could see us deprived of US defence imports in times of threats from Russia. Russia clearly has a hold on Trump and possibly on some of his acolytes so relying on even our closest friends for defence equipment and ammunition is clearly a dodgy proposition so cheapest clearly isn't always best.