The last post in this series covers some of the 'official' ships we see off West Ardnamurchan.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay, based in Tobermory, covers emergencies in the Sound of Mull, while a second lifeboat in Mallaig is usually first to reach casualties on Ardnamurchan's north shore. Both are Severn class, all-weather, self-righting boats, with a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 miles. The Tobermory boat is often to be seen in the Sound on a Tuesday evening, when the crew have their weekly practice. More here.For those of the Diary's readers who are not acquainted with the UK's system of sea rescue, it is not funded by the Government. The RNLI is a charity dependent on public collections, subscriptions and bequests, and is, for obvious reasons, strongly supported by most West Ardnamurchan residents. However, RNLI boats can only be called out to attend an emergency by an official body, Her Majesty's Coastguard, contacted on 999.
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is tasked with overseeing commercial fishing, and runs a small fleet of ships including this one, the Norna. She is 2,200grt, has a top speed of 18 knots, and was launched in 1987. A smaller ship, the Minna, is also seen in our waters. They can be distinguished from naval ships by their paintwork, a slightly bluer shade of grey, and the diagonal stripe near the bow. More about the Norna here.
We also seem to see a fair bit of these ships. They used to be called Customs Cutters, and their main task was searching for contraband and drugs. However, recently, they have had the words 'Border Agency' painted along their superstructure above the word 'Customs', so we assume they are now primarily searching for illegal immigrants. They irritate the Diary because they don't carry any form of visible identification, and, for obvious reasons, don't appear on the AIS website. More detail about them here.
Naval ships are occasional visitors to the Sound, but we see everything from small fast patrol boats and minesweepers to HMS Bulwark, the Albion class assault ship, but the one pictured here excited some interest. She's the brand new, not-yet-in-service hunter-killer submarine Astute, butting her way southwards through a force 6 southeaster. The Diary's reporting of her passage was something of a scoop, here. More about Astute here.
If submarines like Astute demonstrate our capacity to build formidable modern war machines, the British do still launch some very good-looking surface ships. HMS Sutherland, F81, a Type 23 frigate, visited us briefly in January 2010. She came down the Sound at ten on a cold, calm morning, slowed, swung through 180 degrees, and accelerated back the way she had come. Further information about Sutherland here. And the Diary is very much looking forward to seeing the new Daring class destroyers.
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is tasked with overseeing commercial fishing, and runs a small fleet of ships including this one, the Norna. She is 2,200grt, has a top speed of 18 knots, and was launched in 1987. A smaller ship, the Minna, is also seen in our waters. They can be distinguished from naval ships by their paintwork, a slightly bluer shade of grey, and the diagonal stripe near the bow. More about the Norna here.
We also seem to see a fair bit of these ships. They used to be called Customs Cutters, and their main task was searching for contraband and drugs. However, recently, they have had the words 'Border Agency' painted along their superstructure above the word 'Customs', so we assume they are now primarily searching for illegal immigrants. They irritate the Diary because they don't carry any form of visible identification, and, for obvious reasons, don't appear on the AIS website. More detail about them here.
Naval ships are occasional visitors to the Sound, but we see everything from small fast patrol boats and minesweepers to HMS Bulwark, the Albion class assault ship, but the one pictured here excited some interest. She's the brand new, not-yet-in-service hunter-killer submarine Astute, butting her way southwards through a force 6 southeaster. The Diary's reporting of her passage was something of a scoop, here. More about Astute here.
If submarines like Astute demonstrate our capacity to build formidable modern war machines, the British do still launch some very good-looking surface ships. HMS Sutherland, F81, a Type 23 frigate, visited us briefly in January 2010. She came down the Sound at ten on a cold, calm morning, slowed, swung through 180 degrees, and accelerated back the way she had come. Further information about Sutherland here. And the Diary is very much looking forward to seeing the new Daring class destroyers.
Well John , I find your site interesting and visit every few days , the walks , the village life , the info on ships in the Sound .
ReplyDeleteI sit here where 10,000 men & women built the best ships to sail the seas , now you buy groceries or get a mortgage whilst lookng at the occasional ship on the Clyde , keep up the good work ---- Cometbouy on the Clyde
Hi Cometbuoy -
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Mombasa in the 1960s, the finest merchant ships were Clyde-built, and we'd watch them with great pleasure as they came along the channel into Kilindini harbour. My favourites were the Clan Line boats.
Jon
Hi,
ReplyDeletegreetings from NSW Australia. I did see a rescue boat when I was in Wick a few years ago, they do great work.
I am curious about the "Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay", this is the name of a distant (deceased) cousin nee Elizabeth Fairlie Green. Could you possibly tell me about the boats naming please?
Cheers
Rhonda