London (AP) – As a visible sign of Brexit, the future has a new flagship to represent the United Kingdom on the world’s oceans. The ship replaces the royal ferry “Britannia”, which was demoted in 1997 and has since been established as a museum in Scotland.
Construction of the new ship is scheduled to begin in 2022. It will be used for trade fairs, summits and diplomatic talks, as announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. A name has not yet been selected.
The ship, Johnson said, “reflects Britain’s growing position as a large, independent maritime trading nation.” It is “a clear and strong symbol of our commitment to being an active player on the world stage”. The cost will be around 200 million pounds (233 million euros), the ship will be operational for about 30 years. Conservative MPs are insisting that the building be named after Prince Elizabeth II’s recently deceased husband Prince Philip.
Johnson has repeatedly stressed that after Brexit, Great Britain can now decide on its trade policy again. In addition, the government is arming the military and wants to become the leading naval power after the United States. However, important trade talks are currently stalled, for example with the United States, but also with Norway and Australia.
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