The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is undergoing repairs after suffering its third leak this year.
An engine room aboard the £3billion warship was flooded during the incident while alongside at Portsmouth Naval Base.
It has been reported that the leak has forced the ship to postpone a trip to the US to exercise with F35B Lightning jets.
A Royal Navy spokesman said: “HMS Prince of Wales is alongside at HMNB Portsmouth conducting repairs following a flood in an engine room.
“The ship’s company are getting ready to sail for further training and trials in 2021.”
The spokesman would not comment on the extent of the damage or any change to the ship’s schedule.
In October, the Prince of Wales suffered another leak in an engine room and in May a video emerged of water pouring through the ceiling into an accommodation area.
The leak comes after sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth had to cut short sea trials in July 2019 after a seal burst causing a large quantity of water to pour from a pipe and to flood through several decks.
Following the incident, the Queen Elizabeth’s then commanding officer Captain Steve Moorhouse said it was safe and that in his experience leaks were a “weekly” problem for warships.
