The royal patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board has officially named their newest aids to navigation and buoy handling vessel, which Afloat reported on its delivery voyage to Scotland last month.
At a ceremony, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, on Wednesday, 21 January, named the NLV Pole Star at the Forth Ports Cruise Terminal in Leith, the nearest port to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, where Afloat highlights the former royal yacht Britannia, which is berthed as a static museum.
To mark the historic moment, Princess Anne 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, and it is also where a former NLB vessel is now a floating hotel.
Crew members of NLV Pole Star alongside the £51.8 million newbuild hybrid-powered 70 m vessel built by the Spanish shipyard Gondan to a design by OSK Design and Seaplace. It accommodates 16 crew and up to 10 other persons.
Mike Bullock, Chief Executive of the Northern Lighthouse Board, said, “Six years ago, we set sail on our journey to replace the fourth Pole Star, who 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 sea-keeping, 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 minimize the impact on the environment and bring additional capability to help deal with the effects of climate change.”
Hugh Shaw, Chair of the Board of Commissioners, said, “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 new 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 organization’s journey towards greater sustainability in the delivery of a vital safety service.”
About NLV Pole Star
- The new build represents a significant investment in the future of marine safety, with a £51.8 million contract awarded to Spanish shipyard Gondan in December 2022 for the construction of this innovative hybrid-powered vessel.
- The vessel, designed by OSK Design and Seaplace, has an overall length of 70 m and a beam of 16 m
- Equipped to accommodate 16 crew and up to 10 other persons
- Pole Star is powered by three 1860 kWe hybrid electric propulsion engines, supported by 4,644 kWh battery capacity for energy efficiency. It is also equipped with three cranes, including an offshore crane capable of lifting 20 t with a reach of 14 m.
- With its hybrid propulsion, advanced navigation, and communications systems, the vessel is designed to perform hydrographic surveys, service buoys and lighthouses, and generally improve the safety and efficiency of NLB operations—all while reducing environmental impact compared to older vessels.
The Northern Lighthouse Board is the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) for the waters surrounding Scotland and the Isle of Man and is responsible for the superintendence and management of all lights, buoys, and beacons within this area.
As well as its Edinburgh headquarters, NLB has a base in Oban, technicians based in Inverness, Shetland, and Orkney, and two ships. The newbuild NLV Pole Star joins NLV Pharos (see Manx call) to carry out buoy work and deliver stores and supplies to lighthouses and inspect navigation aids on oil and gas rigs in the Scottish sector. The NLV Pharos also carries out helicopter operations, hydrographic surveying, and wreck finding.
