A DUNFERMLINE man has become one of the first members of crew to join one of the Royal Navy’s largest and most powerful warships being built at Rosyth Dockyard.

On Tuesday, the first 12 sailors joined the company of the HMS Prince of Wales, including officer Bill Smith, who will be the marine engineer department co-ordinator on the HMS Prince of Wales.

“I’m originally from Middlesbrough but I’ve been in Dunfermline for 30 years now, I love it,” he said. 

“It’s really good, it’s the first time I’ve been first on a ship’s company. It’s good when you can put your influence on it, as part of the ship as it grows, as well.

“I had friends working on the Queen Elizabeth so I’ve been on and had a look around there. 

“It’s the first time I’ve been on the Prince of Wales though. I’ll spend more time here than my house probably.

“One of my jobs for the marine engineering department will be to make sure the guys have done the right courses and have trained properly before they get here. 

“So I’ll be the main focal point for them, that’s why I’m in early.”

Captain Simon Petitt, the senior naval officer of both carriers, said: “It is an honour to be in charge of a small but rapidly growing team. 

“This is day one for the men and women who will serve in HMS Prince of Wales and I wish them every success in their journey.

“It is massively exciting both for the Royal Navy but also for Scotland. 

“The key bit today of course is the crew joining the HMS Prince of Wales. 

“They’re daunted, hugely proud, and a little humbled both by the task ahead and by what the country is bestowing on them in many respects.

“It’s all about teamwork and, of course, these are just the first. Over the next year, they will grow and grow rapidly. 

“They’ve got to be able to learn about the ship very quickly, understand how we’re going to cascade that knowledge to all the new joiners, construct a training plan and prepare the ship for sea. 

“It sounds really simple if you say it quickly!

“Once the ship’s staff and company move onboard, it will be their home and it’s quite a nice home actually.”

There was a “lot to be proud of” for the crew manning both ships, according to the senior naval officer.

Captain Petitt added: “From an industrial context, they are huge engineering projects that Scotland, Fife, Dunfermline, Rosyth should be rightfully proud of. 

“They are the largest ships the Royal Navy has ever had built for them and they will be the centrepiece of the navy for the next 50 years.

“The last CO of this ship has not yet been born. And that, I think, puts in place a mental image of how long these ships will last.”