British aircraft carrier worth more than $4 billion leaks water

The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is leaking water just two weeks after joining the British navy.

Location of water leak on Britain's state-of-the-art aircraft carrier. Photo: BusinessInsider

British defense officials admitted today that the ship had been leaking water for some time due to a problem with the shaft seal. According to the Sun, 200 liters of water was leaking into the ship every hour.

The 280m-long aircraft carrier, the most powerful ship ever built by Britain, is undergoing sea trials and is expected to enter service in 2020. It was built at a cost of $4.1 billion.

"That's why we have these trials, to make sure everything is working perfectly," said Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. "HMS Queen Elizabeth is the best aircraft carrier in the world. It will make a significant difference to what we can achieve and do as a global power."

Rear Admiral Chris Parry, a former senior naval officer, said the leak was “not a big deal,” according to Sky News. “Frankly, every ship gets water in. That’s why you have water pumps,” he said, adding that during sea trials, the navy puts ships under extreme conditions to determine if there are any problems.

BAE Systems, which has a key role in building the ship, said it was still movable and the problem would be resolved in the new year, a process that could take several days.

The ship weighs 65,000 tons,can operate with 1,000 sailors and 40 aircraft on board.. The problem will be repaired when the ship is docked atPortsmouth.

Queen Elizabeth II attended the commissioning of the ship into the Royal Navy this month. The ship is named after both the current queen and Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603. Her sister shipHMS Queen Elizabeth is the still-under-construction HMS Prince of Wales.

According to VNE