A Star is born
On Tuesday 11 November 2025, Pole Star, the Northern Lighthouse Board’s new vessel left the shipyard at Gondán Shipbuilders and set sail for Gijón to begin sea trials. This was the vessel’s final stage in which she had to complete a comprehensive set of sea trials before being sailed with the NLB crew to Scotland.
The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) announced the award of a £51.8 million contract to Spanish shipyard Gondán in December 2022 for the build of a state-of-the-art hybrid powered ship. NLB took delivery of the vessel this month (December).
On the first day of sea trials, Alisdair Graham, Ship’s Master with NLB said: ‘From our departure it became evident that she is an extremely quiet vessel at sea. Throughout the accommodation you can barely tell you’re on a ship. Currently she has minimal weight onboard and sitting at a draught of 3.25 metres and has the qualities of a comfortable sea boat. We had about 20 knots of wind yesterday and a long Atlantic swell rolling in at around 2.5-3 metres and she handled this well. I was suitably impressed.
‘We stopped for a fire drill, and she provided a very stable platform on the after deck. Although still early days I am filled with confidence that she will prove to be the vessel we all hoped for. We all just want to take delivery and sail over the horizon but hands must remain in pockets for now.”
The new vessel is a step change from what has gone before using new technology to minimise the impact on the environment. The ship has enhanced capability to help deal with the effects of climate change, and will contribute to the ambitious environmental targets set out in the UK Government Clean Maritime Plan.
As part of the deal Gondán created a special fully funded internship programme for up to fifteen UK-based students. Four students from Strathclyde University in Scotland benefitted from placements with Gondán and NLB’s former Mechanical Engineering Apprentice Morgan Dennison, completed a three-month placement at the yard. As well as demonstrating social value, the internships provided valuable learning and development opportunities.
The ship follows a tradition started in 1892 by being the fifth NLB vessel to bear the name Pole Star, will support NLB’s vital safety service to mariners in Scottish and Isle of Man waters.
At 0900 on 3 December NLB took delivery of Pole Star. The vessel was registered on the UK Shipping Register at 1048 that day and is now a British ship and flying NLB’s blue ensign. A landmark moment!
The ship will stay in Gijon, Spain for crew familiarisation and final UK flag state inspections, before sailing with the NLB crew to Oban.
By Fiona Holmes, Communications Officer, NLB.