LEITH 2010

The following vessels visited the Port of Leith (Edinburgh) in 2010.

SHIP		PEN.NO		ARRIVAL		DEPARTED
Hdms Triton		F 359		05/02/10		08/02/10
HrMs Zierkzee		M 862		19/02/10		21/02/10
Fs Chavalier Paul		D 621		08/04/10		12/04/10
HrMs Luymes		A 803		09/04/10		12/04/10
HrMs Van Amstel		F 831		10/04/10		12/04/10
HrMs De Zeven Provinciën		F 802		10/04/10		11/04/10
Fs Latouche Tréville		D 646		23/04/10		27/04/10
Fs Marne		A 630		23/04/10		26/04/10
HrMs De Ruyter		F 804		17/06/10		20/06/10
Rfa Argus		A 135		15/08/10		27/08/10
Hdms Triton		F 359		27/09/10		30/08/10
Fgs Rheinland Pfalz		F 209		24/09/10		28/09/10
Bns Godetia		A 960		09/10/10		11/10/10
HrMs Haarlem		M 853		09/10/10		11/10/10
HrMs Middleburg		M 858		09/10/10		11/10/10
Bns Aster		M 915		09/10/10		11/10/10
HrMs Hellevoetsluis		M 859		09/10/10		11/10/10
HrMs Vlaardingen		M 863		09/10/10		11/10/10
Knm Ula		S 300		15/10/10		18/10/10
Hms Tyne		P 281		13/12/10		17/12/10

HMS TYNE

Hms Tyne is seen here arriving Leith (Edinburgh) Monday 13 December for a 5 day R & R visit.    

She is the first of the River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV's) built for Fishery Protection around the UK. These OPVs, including sister ships HMS Severn and HMS Mersey, are taking over from the Island Class. HMS Tyne was built in Woolston Docks, Southampton and is based at HM Naval Base Portsmouth.

The current HMS Tyne is the sixth ship to bear the name in the Royal Navy. 

A new Commanding Officer took command of the vessel in July 2010 - Lieutenant Commander Will Peters Royal Navy.  From mid 2007 to late 2009 he enjoyed a productive period with the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff, based at the Northwood Headquarters, where his responsibilities included planning advanced ASW exercises and bespoke amphibious, mine countermeasures and diving training as part of the bi-annual Joint Warrior Exercises. 

Lt Cmdr Peters is seen here on the bridge wing with the Forth Ports Pilot

She is seen here on her berth next to the Ocean Terminal and in front of the formal Royal Yacht Britannia

Hms Tyne alongside Leith on a misty evening

Hms Tyne has visited Leith on several previous occasions - HERE and HERE.

Leith 15th October 2010

Todays arrival was the Norwegian submarine ULA.  She arrived 90 minuites early and came as quite a surprise when I got there!

The Ula class is a Norwegian submarine type which was assembled in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The class, consisting of 6 vessels, is currently the only submarine type in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.

The ordering of a new Norwegian submersible design stemmed from a 1972 decision to modernize the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) submarine flotilla, which then consisted of the aging Kobben class submarines.

The construction of the vessels was an international project. The combat systems were made in Norway by Kongsberg, the attack sonar is German and the flank sonars French. The hull sections were produced in Norway, and then assembled in Germany by Thyssen Nordseewerke, Emden. In Germany, the design is known as the U-Boot-Klasse 210.

When commissioned Ulas were the first Norwegian submarines with bedding for the entire crew and a shower.

The Ula class submarines are among the most silent and maneuverable submarines in the world. This, in combination with the relatively small size, makes them difficult to detect from surface vessels and ideal for operations in coastal areas. The Ula class submarines are regarded as both the most effective and cost-effective weapons in the RNoN.

Missions 

In recent years, several submarines of the Ula class have been deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in support of the NATO Operation Active Endeavour, where their intelligence gathering ability have surpassed expectations. Their operational availability proved to be the highest of all the ships taking part in the operation. However, this deployment has highlighted the need to make the Ula class submarines better able to keep temperatures from getting too high for the crew when operating in warm waters. As a response to this, the KNM Ula have now been "tropicalized" by installing new cooling systems, and two more of the class are due for "tropicalization".

Future plans

During the period 2006-2008, the Ula class were modernised. Most notably, the submarines got new communication equipment, new electronic warfare support measures and a periscope upgrade.  In May 2008, the contract for new sonars was signed. The first submarine will have new sonar in 2011, and the last in 2015. The Ula class will probably be kept in service until 2020.

Vessels

Six submarines were delivered (1989-1992) to the RNoN. All of them have their home base at Haakonsvern in Bergen. The boats are all named after places in Norway, with the exception of the S305, Uredd, which literally translates to "unafraid" or "unfearing." The ship prefix for Norwegian vessels is KNM (Kongelig Norsk Marine, Royal Norwegian Navy) in Norwegian.

Name	Pen No	Commissioned
ULA	S300	1989
UTSIRA	S301	1992
UTSTEIN	S302	1991
UTVÆR	S303	1990
UTHAUG	S304	1991
UREDD	S305	1990

She is seen here approaching Leith in high winds, the escorting tug is Seal Carr

A close up up of the conning tower

Almost in the lock

Finally in the lock

Leith 9th October 2010

6 Naval visitors arrived on Saturday 9th October for the weekend.

On a very, very cold misty Saturday morning (07:30am).  The first vessel arrived, she was the Belgian command and logistical support ship BNS Godetia (A960).   The Godetia has three missions: fishery protection, acting as a support and supply ship for minesweepers, and acting as a command ship for mine countermeasure operations.

She is seen here approaching the lock gates

In the locks

Next came the Dutch Alkmaar class minehunter HrMs Haarlem (M853).  Haarlem is one of many Triparte class minehunters.  

She is seen here approaching the locks with BNS Aster (M915) and sister Hellevoetsluis behind.

 

In the lock behing BNS Godeita (A960).

Next up was HrMs Middleburg (M858), seen here arriving Leith with sisters Hellevoetsluis (M859) and Vlaardingen (M863) behind.

HrMs Middleburg (M858), seen here arriving Leith on the left behind is BNS Aster (M915) and to the right her sisters Hellevoetsluis (M859) and Vlaardingen (M863) behind.

Almost in the lock.

The fourth ship (and the third Triparte minehunter) to arrive was the Belgian vessel BNS Aster (M915).

Seen here being escorted by the Forth Ports tug Seal Carr

The penultimate ship was the Dutch Hellevoetsluis (M859).

Last but not least was the Dutch vessel Vlaardingen (M863).

 Seen here being escorted by the Forth Ports tug Seal Carr

And finally after over an hour of waiting the last ship enters the lock

The two escorting Forth Ports tugs were Seal Carr and Beamer

RFA Argus

RFA Argus (A135) is an aviation training ship with a secondary role of primary casualty receiving ship in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Italian-built, Argus was formerly the container ship MV Contender Bezant. The ship was requisitioned in 1982 for service in the Falklands War and purchased outright in 1984.

After a four year conversion at Harland and Wolff in Belfast the ship entered RFA service in 1988. Having been initially designed as a container ship, her stability when unloaded would be excessive making her motion at sea uncomfortable or even dangerous. Therefore, her superstructure is deliberately heavily built (weighing some 800 tons), and she has 1,800 tons of concrete ballast carried in former hatch covers, which have been inverted to form tray-like structures

Being a former container ship, Argus does not have a traditional aircraft carrier layout - the ship's superstructure is located forward, with a long flight deck aft. The ship has a small secondary superstructure approximately 2/3 of the way down the flight deck, containing the ship's exhaust funnel. This is used by small helicopters to simulate landing on the flight deck of a destroyer or frigate.

Argus was fitted with a fully functional hospital for the 1991 Gulf crisis, which has since been added to, providing 100 beds. It is equipped with the best of equipment: x-ray facilities, CAT scanner, ITU ward etc. Casualties can be quickly transferred from the deck directly into the assessment area. In recent conflicts, the ship's role as a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship (referred to as such rather than a hospital ship as the vessel is armed, thus not meeting the Geneva Convention definition of a hospital ship) has been more prominent than its aviation training duties.

In 2007 the ship was refitted with upgraded hospital facilities (replacing the forward aircraft lift with a ramp for emergency exit for hospital trollies and patients as well as two 50-man passenger lifts that lead to a new structure erected on the flight deck), generators and aviation systems (the ship is due to receive an upgrade to its night-vision capabilities enabling the use of AH-64 Apache helicopters) to give an operational life until 2020.

Argus entered service with the RFA in 1988, replacing RFA Engadine in the aviation training role. The ship deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 for service in the Gulf War, and also saw service in the Adriatic in 1993 and 1999 supporting British operations in Bosnia and over Kosovo respectively. During this period, Argus LPH. Her unsuitability for this role was a major factor in the commissioning of HMS Ocean. In 2003 Argus was deployed again to the Gulf as part of a 33 ship fleet to support a British amphibious assault of the Peninsula. Argus operated in its PCRS role.

In 2008 she deployed to the Middle East to act as a platform for Sea King ASaCs7 helicopters.  A program to replace Argus called the Joint Casualty Treatment Ship (JCTS) was put on hold in December 2001 after passing initial approval. The Integrated Project Team (IPT) managing the project was subsequently disbanded in 2005.

The ship was most recently stationed in's home port is Falmouth in Cornwall England England although being an RFA ship means that she also uses the former naval dockyard in Portland in Dorse.

During times of war RFA Argus acts as a floating hospital with two full wards and mortuary. The last time the hospital was utilised in this way was off the coast of Freetown in 2000-01, in support of British operations against the rebel West Side Boys.

She is seen arriving in Sunday 16th August 2010 after her recent £37million pound refit.

Approaching the lock entrance

A tight squeeze as she enters the lock

Sitting in the locks waiting for the levels to equalise

Safely through the lock making her way (slowly) to the Imperial Dock

Passing through the very narrow Imperial Dock entrance

Through the entrance making her way to her berth

Finally on her berth

The view from her bridge

Main engine controls

CT Scanner

The operating theatre

The HDU (High Dependancy Unit)

Entrance to the hospital via the flight deck

Down the ramp and into the hospital

The ship's four diesel generators

This is the hangar deck capable of holding 4 Sea King helicopters

The flight deck towards the ship

Looking at the flight deck from the superstructure

She is seen here departing Leith 27 August 2010 after her 11 day stay

Coming through the cut at the Imperial Dock

Look at how tight it is coming through the cut

Finally on her way to the locks

Safely in the locks

On her way back to open water