Fog delays HMS Prince of Wales journey to Norway security conference

The British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has been delayed on its journey to Norway due to heavy fog, the Daily Mail reported. The captain of the vessel refused to sail the warship into a narrow Norwegian fjord, stating that proceeding in the conditions was too risky. [1]

The Daily Mail reported that the 65,000-tonne, 920-foot warship was traveling to the capital city of Oslo to attend a major security conference scheduled for this week. Naval top brass are set to attend the conference. The outlet noted that the 3.5 billion pound aircraft carrier has experienced recurring issues since it was brought into service nine years ago. [1]

HMS Prince of Wales is the second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and serves as the Fleet Flagship of the Royal Navy. The vessel operates short take-off and vertical landing aircraft rather than using catapults and arrestor wires. It carries up to 48 F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole fighters along with Merlin helicopters, and can accommodate up to 250 Royal Marines. [2]

The delay occurs as diplomatic relations in the region remain active. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre recently cautioned the United Kingdom against seeking access to the European Union single market through the European Economic Area. [4]