A billion-pound warship that has been docked in Merseyside for more than two years has finally set sail.
HMS Dauntless bid farewell to Cammell Laird shipyard on Tuesday, after spending 770 days undergoing repair works in Birkenhead. The ship hasn't been at sea since 2016, following a deployment to the Gulf.
The vessel, which is one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 Destroyers, is among the most advanced warships ever constructed. But the ship has had to undergo major engineering works after serious faults were identified with her electric propulsion system.
READ MORE: Mum 'laughed at' by doctors after rushing for help in middle of night
HMS Dauntless arrived at Cammell Laird from Portsmouth in May 2020 to receive a Power Improvement Package (PIP) as part of a £160m programme to fix the unreliable engines propelling Britain’s £6bn fleet of destroyers.
Farewell Merseyside!
We will miss the wonderful views of Liverpool, but now it is time to test our improved engines as we head back to sea - where we belong.
Thank you @CammellLaird, @BAES_Maritime, @DefenceES. @RoyalNavy #TheAirDefenderOfChoice pic.twitter.com/mhDTxwTwFl— HMS Dauntless (@HMSDauntless)
It was expected the work would take around six months to complete, however Dauntless has been docked on Merseyside four times longer than anticipated.
The vessel, which weighs in at a whopping 8,500 tonnes, is equipped with the fearsome Sea Viper anti-air missile system, and has the ability to carry out a huge range of war-fighting and constabulary duties.
She was sent on her way with a flypast by Typhoon fighter jets and is expected to remain at sea for several weeks as a series of tests are carried out. If everything goes to plan, the vessel could return to the fleet later this year.
Receive our three MyWirral newsletters and breaking news email alerts by signing up here.
