NLV Pole Star

The NLV Pole Star passing Greenock

History
United Kingdom
Name| NLV Pole Star
Operator| Northern Lighthouse Board
Port of registry| Leith
Builder| Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow
Yard number| 709[1]
Laid down| 28 July 1999
Completed| 15 September 2000
Homeport| Oban
Identification|

* IMO number: 9211987
* MMSI number: 235000500
* Callsign: ZQQC5

Status| in service
General characteristics
Class & type| Lloyd's + 100A1, LA, + LMC, UMS
Type| Buoy / Lighthouse Vessel
Tonnage|

* Gross Tonnage: 1373 Tonnes
* NET (Registered): Tonnage 352 Tonnes

Displacement| 1,174 tonnes
Length| o/a: 51.52 m; B.P: 44.00 m
Beam| 12 m
Height| Air Draught 25 m
Draught| 3.2 m
Depth| to Upper Deck: 5.00 m
Propulsion| Cummins-Wärtsilä CW8L170 - 3 × 920 kW AC Diesel-electric dynamic positioning system, 2 × azimuth thrusters, 2 × tunnel bow thrusters
Speed| 12 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried| Workboat: Sea Rover 5.5 m
Capacity| 15 × Single Berth Cabins, 2 × Twin Berth Cabins
Complement| 6 × Officers, 9 × Ratings
Notes| [2]

NLV Pole Star is a lighthouse tender operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), the body responsible for the operation of lighthouses and marine navigation aids around the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Pole Star was joined by a new vessel, NLV Pharos in March 2007, which replaced the previous vessel of the same name.[3] Although the headquarters of the NLB is in Edinburgh, both vessels can be serviced by a workbase in Oban on the west coast.

## History

[edit]

NLV Pole Star at the Glasgow River Festival 2007

Pole Star was completed in 2000 by Ferguson Shipbuilders on the River Clyde. She is the fourth NLB vessel to carry the name and replaced the 37-year-old MV Fingal. In memory of this vessel, Pole Star has a workboat onboard named Fingal.[4]

In March 2012, the ship engaged in carrying out marine a Multibeam echosounder survey in the area of Shetland with the British Geological Survey on behalf of Marine Scotland.[5]

In January 2013, the ship carried out a marine sampling survey and undertook penetration testing in Loch Linnhe.[6]

In August 2016, the ship stayed at the port of Inverness.[7]

In October 2020, the ship visit Rosyth Dockyard for repair, maintenance and safety checks.[8]

In July 2022, the ship hosted a series of public access open days in Douglas Harbour on the Isle of Man.[9]

In 2021, it was announced that the NLB are looking to replace the ship with a new vessel, as the current Pole Star approaches the end of its service life.[10] In 2023, it was announced that steel had been cut at the Gondán Shipyard in Figuere for the construction of a replacement ship, to be named as the new Pole Star. The new Pole Star is expected to replace the existing ship in summer 2025.[11]

## Equipment

[edit]

The ship serves primarily as a buoy tender but also has an ancillary role in transport purposes as a lighthouse tender. However, it also has capability to undertake marine surveys with the use of its multibeam echo sounder.[5][6] The ship has an 18t crane on her 90m² aft deck.[7] The ship has Dynamic positioning capability.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NLV Pole Star Update". Following the Lights. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
2. ^ "NLV Pole Star". Northern Lighthouse Board. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
3. ^ "NLB Ships through time". Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
4. ^ "News Archive". The Orcadian. 10–17 September 2000. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
5. ^ a b "Marine Scotland (MSO) Multibeam Survey 2012/3_MS: Shetland (15/Mar/2012 to 26/Mar/2012)". Gov.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
6. ^ a b "British Geological Survey (BGS) Sampling Survey 2013/1: Cone penetration testing, Loch Linnhe: (07/Jan/2013)". Gov.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
7. ^ a b c "Pole Star visits Inverness". Port of Inverness. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
8. ^ "Babcock completes work on NLV Pole Star for Northern Lighthouse Board". ADS. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
9. ^ "Northern Lighthouse Board's (NLB) vessel - NLV PHAROS to hold open days for Isle of Man residents and visitors in July 2022". Maritime Informed. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
10. ^ "Shipbuilders invited to industry day on buoy tender replacement". Riviera. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
11. ^ "First Steel Cut for new Northern Lighthouse Board Vessel". NLB. Retrieved 5 June 2024.

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