Hebridean Isles

[creemaster]

Spotted this in Seaton Sluice this afternoon
No sign of her 'mother' which arrived in Aberdeen on 4th November, presumably for drydocking etc
From Calmac.co.uk
MV Hebridean Isles, Eileanan Innse Gall, is a ferry of firsts. Not only was she the first of the fleet to be launched side first, she was also the first to be named by royalty when HRH the Duchess of Kent launched her in 1986.

After operating the 'Uig Triangle' faithfully for 15 years of her service, she now mostly joins MV Finlaggan in operating between Kennacraig and Islay, with occasional secondments to help out elsewhere in the network.

[northeast]

Wonder if the boat was 'made in Yorkshire' as her mother was

[Hornbeam]

Replaced by Canisters I suspect? I hope the new owner puts some Ballast in her, Lifeboats are at there most seaworthy when the are full of people. Wooden Clinker built Lifeboats were the best with each overlap acting as a Damper when they rolled

[Patrick Hill]

When I caught her at Oban earlier this year she was already missing her port side boat, nothing had replaced it at that time.

[Hornbeam]

The RN do?/did things differently, ships boats if they are carried are not counted when it comes to survival equipment (the reasons are obvious ) it was a matter of hanging on to Carley Floats or Flotsom. You were issued with your own Lifejacket which was a Belt (which had your name on in white paint)with a Pouch which you positioned on your stomach and undid the Press Studs and pulled the Inflatable Lifejacket out which you placed over your neck,getting the deflated Lifejacket back into that little Pouch was a work of art. There has been a recent development when it comes to the emergency decanting into a Liferaft which looks like an enclosed Aircraft Emergency evacuation chute straight into the Liferaft which requires height at the Ship end otherwise it's jump in and swim to the Liferaft.
There seems to be quite a market in secondhand enclosed Lifeboats for conversions into homes which reminds of the ex Lifeboat homes at Greatham Creek, the wooden supports for the Landing Stages are still there now used by the seals to scratch their bahookies on.