UK's newest aircraft carrier to be repaired after leak

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

An aircraft carrier, which joined the British Navy fleet earlier this month, will have to be repaired due to a reported leak.

The £3.1 bn ($4.14 billion) HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned in a ceremony on Dec. 7, by the queen.

“An issue with a shaft seal has been identified during HMS Queen Elizabeth’s sea trials. This is scheduled for repair while she is alongside at Portsmouth,” a spokesman from British Navy said.

“It does not prevent her from sailing again and her sea trials program will not be affected.”

The carrier is letting in around 200 liters of water every hour due to a problem with one of its propeller shafts, according to local media.

The aircraft carrier weighs 65,000 tons and can travel at a maximum speed of 25 knots.