The vessel, which is currently under construction at GONDAN Shipbuilders in Castropol, Spain, was launched on Tuesday. It successfully left the slipway and entered the Ria del Eo before being towed to a berth at the shipyard.
Phil Day, Director of Operations with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) called the launch “a momentous occasion for the shipyard and for NLB”.
He said: “To see the vessel successfully launch into the water is a major milestone and means we are well on our way to taking delivery of a new state-of-the-art hybrid powered ship to support our vital safety service to mariners.”
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Alvaro Platero Díaz, President of GONDAN Shipbuilders, added: “As the shipyard honoured to build the NLV Pole Star—the fifth vessel of this name under the Northern Lighthouse Board’s command since 1892—the launching ceremony is an exciting milestone. It marks the moment when the structural elements of a complex engineering project come together to finally become a ship.
“We deeply appreciate NLB’s commitment to excellence from day one, which has driven the yard to deliver a highly sophisticated and durable vessel that will enable NLB to fulfil its mission for many years to come.”
The ship will now require around nine months of fitting out work before it is ready for delivery.
The new vessel which replaces the current POLE STAR will incorporate the latest technology to minimise the impact on the environment. The ship will have 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.
NLB representatives Phil Day, Director of Operations; Chris Somerville, Ship’s Master; Jonathan Stewart, 2nd Engineer; Adrian Abraham, ETO, and Donald Lawrie, Chief Engineer, were present at the event to celebrate the launch.
The NLB announced the award of a fixed price contract of £51.8 million to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Gondán S.A back in December of 2022.
The tender included a commitment to place over £2 million of contracts with UK suppliers with a requirement for any contract over £25k to be advertised in the UK.
As part of the deal Gondán also created a special fully funded internship programme for up to 15 UK based students who have benefited from a range of placements at the yard during the vessel’s construction.
Speaking after the contract was awarded for the ship, then Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said: “This new vessel will deliver vital stores and supplies to lighthouses along the coastline and help to carry out important buoy work, providing a crucial service to the wider maritime sector and upholding world-class levels of safety in our waters.
“As we continue working to deliver Maritime 2050 and decarbonise, it’s great to see the new POLE STAR will also be much greener than its predecessor and make use of innovative technology to reduce emissions, while supporting jobs and skills in the UK.”
NLB operates two ships NLV PHAROS and NLV POLE STAR. The ships carry out buoy work, deliver stores and supplies to lighthouses and inspect navigation aids on oil and gas rigs in the Scottish sector.
The new vessel follows a tradition started in 1892 by being the fifth NLB vessel to bear the name POLE STAR. It is due to enter service in June 2025.