Queen Sofia launches ship

Mar 11, 2008, 12:35 GMT

Spain\'s Princess Letizia (L) looks to Queen Sofia during the launching of new Strategic Projection ship \'Juan Carlos I\', the biggest of Spanish Navy, at Navantia shipyard, in Ferrol, Galicia, northwestern Spain, 10 March 2008. EPA/LAVANDEIRA JR

Spain's Queen Sofia launched the country's largest aircraft carrier 'Juan Carlos I', named after her husband King Juan Carlos, last night (10.03.08).

The queen blessed the ship - which cost 360 million euros to build and will be handed over to the Spanish Navy in a year's time - by traditionally smashing a bottle of champagne against her side in Ferrol, north Spain.

As the ship slid down the slipway, a band played the Spanish National Anthem while onlookers cheered and other surrounding ships sounded their horns.

King Juan Carlos - wearing the traditional uniform of a Navy General Captain - joined his wife and Spain's Ministers for Defence and Culture, José Antonio Alonso and César Antonio Molina, at the launch.

The 'Juan Carlos I' has four times as many features as the current carrier, the 'Principe de Asturias'.

It is as tall as a 12-storey building, and will be able to carry 1,200 soldiers, 27,000 tons of cargo and 30 aeroplanes.

The ship will also be used as a hospital vessel, and will be fitted out with equipment to perform operations and other dental work.

It will need a crew of 240 who will be looked after by Capitan Andrés Amable.

(C) BANG Media International