The defence secretary said the shipyard would secure jobs

The �50m facility built by the VT Group at Portsmouth naval base was opened by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon on Monday.

The yard, which replaces VT's former home in Southampton, is one of the most advanced anywhere in the world and will help build the Navy's new Type 45 destroyers.

It is the first new shipyard to be opened in the UK in 60 years.

Mr Hoon said: "The current shipbuilding programme will create or secure several thousand jobs in UK shipyards and their ancillary industries throughout the country.

The crew of HMS Walney attended the ceremony

"This is a tremendous facility for Portsmouth, the region and the whole country."

While attending the ceremony Mr Hoon refused to answer questions relating to the Hutton Inquiry.

VT Group chief executive Paul Lester said: "A new shipyard hasn't been opened in the UK for 60 years.

"This is the largest single investment in warship building since the Second World War.

"The Portsmouth shipbuilding facility will place us in a strong position to play a major role in future Royal Navy programmes and to improve our shipbuilding services to export customers," he said.

The VT Group - formerly Vosper Thornycroft - closed the Woolston yard in Southampton in June.

The closure brought to an end almost 100 years of shipbuilding at the site.

The 31-acre waterfront site has been sold off for housing and business development over the next 10 years.