NavList:

It’s a picky point, but if I have it right during the trials period until acceptance, the QE will wear the red ensign not the white, so she’s a civvie ship. That may explain why the minder has her AIS on since, purely formally, a ship that hasn’t been commissioned cannot have operational status…and maybe therefore her minder gets a downgrade too?

Best,

Stephen D

Stephen  I think it’s just that the Firth of Forth is very busy.  Sutherland was working all night until shortly after lunchtime today when she retired to Rosyth.  The fact that she was declaring a draught of 20m and never actually stopped made me suspect she was using towed Sonics.  Iron Duke appeared on AIS when she entered the Forth Approaches this morning but was only drawing 7.2m.  She stood down to Leith around teatime.  I think you're correct about ensigns.  Queen Elizabeth appears from the photos to have been wearing the Blue Ensign as she was towed out of Rosyth.  This might be because there were obviously RN personnel on board although she has yet to be accepted by the RN. DaveP