Imagine then, the shock when the crucial order for HMS Ocean was awarded to VSEL in Barrow.

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After this, the Queen, who was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to HMS Ocean, then presented the new Colour to the fleet.

BBC: Queen presents fleet with Colour

And as part of the military's Olympic security role, the Royal Navy's HMS Ocean and HMS Bulwark will also be based at Greenwich, in London, and Weymouth Bay, in Dorset, respectively.

BBC: London 2012: 13,500 troops to provide Olympic security

The Royal Navy's largest ship, the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, is moored in the Thames off Greenwich, where it will be a base for helicopter operations and house troops providing security at the Greenwich Park Olympic venue.

CNN: London's Olympic security headache

The Royal Navy's largest ship, the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, is now moored in the Thames off Greenwich, where it will act as a base for helicopter operations and house 400 troops providing security at the Greenwich Park Olympic venue.

CNN: UK faces security questions ahead of London Olympics