The warship remained anchored off the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight on Monday, where it went down on Sunday afternoon less than 24 hours after sailing for the United States. The Royal Navy on Monday night confirmed earlier reports that there was a fault with the starboard shaft and that the vessel was likely to need repairs. Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse, who is responsible for ensuring warship readiness, said: “Shortly after the ship set sail on Saturday, a mechanical fault was discovered on the starboard shaft. “I was on board the ship today to see for myself what the problem is and how we in the Royal Navy can work together to make sure the ship is successfully returned to its mission. After the initial assessment, it is likely that the fault will require repairs, which may affect the ship’s schedule. The ship is now moving to a more protected berth for further inspection.” The 65,000-tonne ship has been moved from Sandown mooring to nearby Stokes Bay, a more protected area that would allow divers to carry out detailed inspections. The Telegraph understands that Navy experts are still working to determine the significance of the error and that HMS Prince of Wales’ return to port – possibly including a lengthy dockside inspection – has not been ruled out. On Monday, the Royal Navy tweeted:
