The 65,000-tonne warship which left Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire on Saturday was headed for the US. before an “emerging mechanical problem” occurs. The ship’s departure had been delayed earlier than Friday, August 26, due to a technical problem. On Monday afternoon the Royal Navy said HMS Prince of Wales was in the process of being moved to a different berth so further examinations could be carried out. “We are in the process of moving her to a different berth that is more suitable to allow further inspection of the ship “Right now our focus is on the ship and our people; everyone is working hard to understand the problem and what can be done next.” The carrier had a colorful mission as it departed on Saturday afternoon and was passed by thousands of music fans at the Victorious music festival on Southsea Common in Portsmouth. Revelers at the Victorious music festival on Southsea Common rocked the boat on Saturday Credit: Ben Mitchell/PA Pop favorites Sugababes were in the middle of their set when the giant ship flew past with the crew on the flight deck to check out the festival. The NATO flagship is sailing to conduct training exercises with the US Navy as well as the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The program is expected to include exercises with the F-35B Lightning aircraft. A Royal Navy spokesman said on Saturday: “HMS Prince of Wales will cross the Atlantic with her task force, ready to push the limits of unmanned technology and tactics used by the UK’s two new Queen Elizabeth-class ships . “Along with notable port stops in New York, Halifax in Canada and the Caribbean, over the next three months the Prince of Wales task force will work closely with US allies, operating F-35B aircraft and unmanned systems that will define the Royal Naval Aviation of the future. “With flagship of the fleet HMS Queen Elizabeth also deploying to the Mediterranean and Baltic this autumn at the heart of a powerful Royal Navy task force, it will mean both UK aircraft carriers will be operating F-35B aircraft thousands of miles apart between them”.
