The latest state-of-the-art submarine in the Astute class has been unveiled during a ceremony at its site in Barrow-in-Furness. Artful — a 7,400-tonne, 97-metre-long attack submarine — was officially named in front of thousands of guests in an event to mark the end of its build process.

The ceremony was performed by Amanda Lady Zambellas, wife of the Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, inside BAE Systems’ giant Devonshire Dock Hall (DDH) submarine construction facility.

John Hudson, Managing Director of BAE Systems Maritime–Submarines, said: “The design and build of a nuclear powered submarine is as challenging as it is complex, so today represents a significant milestone in Artful’s programme.

“It requires real skill and innovation to deliver submarines as sophisticated as Artful and this would not have been possible without the valued contribution of our employees and the collaborative efforts of the whole submarine enterprise.

“With this ceremony Artful moves one step closer to joining her sister vessels HMS Astute and HMS Ambush in the Royal Navy fleet, equipping the submarine service with a class of highly capable vessels.”

Following the ceremony, Artful will remain in the DDH to complete a series of commissioning activities, before being launched in early 2014 for further tests and commissioning.