Staying afloat: Key milestone achieved as HMS Cardiff undergoes her first flood-up

After four months of dedicated effort and meticulous preparation, the second of the Royal Navy's eight Type 26 City-class frigates has successfully reached a major milestone with her first flood-up.

HMS Cardiff will now enter the water permanently for the remainder of her fitting out programme, according to BAE Systems.

The key process involves opening the water flow system into the dry dock and allowing it to gradually fill until the ship is buoyant and the water supports its full weight. Mooring lines are then secured to keep her centred.

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In footage released by BAE Systems, a member of the company praised the team for their professionalism in delivering the scope of work.

"They've overcome many challenges, and it's great to see the team achieve this milestone," he said.

Meanwhile, a member of the build team who experienced her first flood-up with HMS Cardiff described it as a "very proud moment".

Welcoming the milestone in a post on X, Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard offered his congratulations to all those involved, adding it was "another step towards taking her place in the fleet".

Forefront of stealth and combat 

The Type 26 programme, comprising eight ships in total, will deliver the Royal Navy's three core roles: warfighting, maritime security and international engagement.

With a quiet hull to reduce underwater noise, and a towed sonar array, it will act primarily as an anti-submarine warfare frigate, replacing the ageing Type 23s currently performing that role.

Its armaments boast significant air defence and surface warfare capabilities, including 12 vertical launch systems cells for the Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile.

The first array – HMS Glasgow, Cardiff, and Belfast – is expected to enter service before 2030. A further five ships – HMS Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and London – will follow in the years after.

A win for Nato 

Late last year, the UK signed a £10bn deal with Norway to supply the country with no fewer than five Type 26 frigates under the Lunna House Agreement.

Despite the delays this could cause the Royal Navy, Commodore (Ret'd) Steve Prest – who served as Director Navy Acquisition – told BFBS Forces News that there are clear positives to be drawn from the deal.

"I genuinely think it's good news because I think it will mean we'll get more Type 26 frigates into the North Atlantic sooner,” he said, adding that it is good "for Nato as a whole".

"I think that increased collaboration between the UK and Norway in that vital geographical area for Nato in that Greenland, Iceland, UK's gap, the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea is really, really significant," he said.