Devonshire Dock Hall
{{Short description|Shipbuilding facility in Barrow-in-Furness, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Devonshire Dock Hall
| image = DDH, Barrow-in-Furness.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Devonshire Dock Hall viewed from Channelside Haven in 2010
| location = Barrow-in-Furness, England, United Kingdom
| coordinates = {{coord|54.1104|-3.2374|display=inline}}
| architect = Civil design by RT James and Partners, London and Newcastle-upon-Tyne
| building_type = Shipbuilding hall
| architectural_style =
| structural_system = Steel frame
| cost =
| owner = BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines
| current_tenants =
| start_date = 1982
| completion_date = 1986
| floor_area = {{convert|35000|m2|sqft|}}
| main_contractor = Alfred McAlpine
}}
Devonshire Dock Hall (often abbreviated to DDH) is a large indoor shipbuilding and assembly complex that forms part of the BAE Systems shipyard in the Barrow Island area of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England.
History
Constructed between 1982 and 1986 by Alfred McAlpine plcGray, p. 174 for Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering, DDH was built on land that was created by infilling part of Devonshire Dock with 2.4 million tonnes of sand pumped from nearby Roosecote Sands. The purpose of the indoor shipbuilding facility was to protect vessels from external weather conditions and prevent satellites from photographing secret technologies involved. DDH provides a controlled environment for ship and submarine assembly, and avoids the difficulties caused by building on the slope of traditional slipways. Outside the hall, a 24,300-tonne capacity shiplift allows completed vessels to be lowered into the water independently of the tide. Vessels can also be lifted out of the water and transferred to the hall.{{Cite web |url=http://www.investis.com/baesystems/astute/ddh.pdf |title=Capabilities of DDH |access-date=2 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718194450/http://www.investis.com/baesystems/astute/ddh.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} The shiplift was the largest in the world upon completion.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-14762995 DDH 25th anniversary] The first use of the DDH was for construction of {{HMS|Triumph|S93|6}}, followed by the Vanguard-class submarines nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) ({{HMS|Vanguard|S28|2}}, {{HMS|Victorious|S29|2}}, {{HMS|Vigilant|S30|2}} and {{HMS|Vengeance|S31|2}}). The shipyard is currently constructing the {{Sclass|Astute|submarine|1}}s the first of which HMS Astute was launched in 2007 and the Dreadnought-class, the replacement for the Vanguard-class of SSBN submarines.{{Cite news|date=2007-06-08|title=New UK nuclear submarine launched|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6733777.stm|access-date=2021-10-06}}
At 00:44 GMT on 30 October 2024, emergency services were called to a "significant fire" at the facility. Two people were taken to hospital for suspected smoke inhalation, but were later released. BAE Systems stated that all personnel were "accounted for" and that non-essential staff should not come to work that day and should work from home. Cumbria Police said there was "no nuclear risk". 15 fire appliances were sent to the scene by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=Fire at Barrow's BAE Systems: Two treated as investigation into cause begins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dqd2yy5do |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
Structure and dimensions
File:Astute1.JPG photographed outside DDH in 2007]]
The steel frame DDH is the tallest building in Barrow at {{convert|51|m}} and can be readily described as a 'Groundscraper' having an internal working length of {{convert|260|m|ft|abbr=on}}, width of {{convert|58|m|ft|abbr=on}} and an area of {{convert|25000|m2|sqft|}} - over 6 acres. DDH was extended in the late 2010s which added an additional {{convert|10365|m2|sqft|}} of floor area thus totalling over {{convert|35000|m2|sqft|}}.{{Cite web |url= http://fedf.co.uk/supply-chain/how-to-supply-to/bae-systems-site-infrastructure/the-primary-build-capability/ |title= The Primary Build Capability |access-date=22 August 2022}}
DDH is the second largest indoor shipbuilding construction complex of its kind in Europe after Dockhalle 2 of Meyer Werft in Germany.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} It is visible from miles around, most notably from the Blackpool Promenade which is over 20 miles away.{{Cite web |url=http://blackpoolcam.co.uk/2009/02/11/lake-districk-snow-from-blackpool/ |title=Blackpool Cam view northwards |access-date=30 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812130439/http://blackpoolcam.co.uk/2009/02/11/lake-districk-snow-from-blackpool/ |archive-date=12 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Future expansion
DDH is at the centre of a £300 million redevelopment of the shipyard that commenced in late 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/defence-boom-will-create-thousands-of-bae-systems-jobs-in-barrow-1.1122457|title=Defence boom will create thousands of BAE jobs in Barrow|publisher=North West Evening Mail|accessdate=13 March 2014}} A large extension to the hall is under-construction to enable construction of the Dreadnought-class submarines, the replacement for the Vanguard-class SSBNs. Proposals were also put forward in 2019 to re-clad the DDH in its entirety to extend the lifetime of the building. The projects are the largest investment at the shipyard since the construction of DDH itself.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
Sources
{{Commons category|Devonshire Dock Hall}}
- {{cite book|last=Gray|first=Tony|title=The Road to Success: Alfred McAlpine 1935 - 1985 |publisher=Rainbird Publishing |year=1987}}
{{coord|54.1104|-3.2374|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}