HRH The Princess Royal names NLV Pole Star
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) officially named the Board’s newest ship on 21 January at Forth Ports Cruise Terminal in Leith.
To mark this historic moment, The Princess Royal broke a bottle of new make whisky spirit produced by the Port of Leith Distillery against the ship’s hull and formally named the vessel Pole Star. Keeping with a longstanding tradition, the vessel’s Port of Registry is Leith.
Mike Bullock, Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board commented: ‘Six years ago, we set sail on our journey to replace the fourth Pole Star, which after many years of loyal service was rapidly approaching the end of her economic life.
‘Following a rigorous process to set clear requirements, which captured expert input from the crews who would operate the vessel, we developed ambitious plans for the new Pole Star. This included improved seakeeping, better and safer buoy servicing operations, as well as towing and firefighting capability in support of other vessels. We also specified an improved standard for crew accommodation and the inclusion of substantial environmental enhancements.
‘Fast forward to January 2026 and we have achieved all that and more. The new vessel is a step change from what has gone before using new technology to minimise the impact on the environment and brings additional capability to help deal with the effects of Climate Change.’
Hugh Shaw, Chair of the Board of Commissioners added: ‘The acceptance into service of Pole Star is a massive team achievement and ensures the Northern Lighthouse Board can continue to protect mariners and our precious marine environment in Scottish and Manx waters into the 2050s.
‘As the fifth vessel to bear the name Pole Star, the ship will support NLB’s vital role in maintaining and managing lighthouses, buoys, and other marine aids to navigation across Scotland and the Isle of Man. She will do this in a more energy- efficient way than her predecessors, marking an important step in the organisation’s journey towards greater sustainability in the delivery of a vital safety service.’
NLB which has provided an essential safety service to mariners for over 200 years currently operates: 208 lighthouses, 174 Buoys, 23 Beacons, 47 AIS (Automatic Identification System) Stations, and 29 Radar Beacons (Racons).
As well as its Edinburgh headquarters, NLB has a base in Oban, technicians based in Inverness, Shetland and Orkney and two ships. The ships, NLV Pharos and NLV Pole Star carry out buoy work, deliver stores and supplies to lighthouses and inspect aids to navigation on oil and gas rigs in the Scottish sector. Pharos also carries out helicopter operations, hydrographic surveying and wreck finding.
The Princess Royal has been Patron to the Northern Lighthouse Board since 1993.
Text here based on material kindly provided by The Northern Lighthouse Board
Photographs per The Northern Lighthouse Board ©
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