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Author Topic: Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock  (Read 5947 times)

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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« on: Dec 11, 2011, 02:10 PM »
I read yesterday in one of the shipping magazines in W.H.Smith's newsagent, that Britannia is to be dry docked next month for the first time since 1997.

Thats good, I thought.  Then I read on.  The refit will involve 'further structural alterations'.

What on earth are they doing to her now!?  The only alteration that beautiful, beautiful historic yacht needs, is an alteration to her location, to not be behind a hideous concrete shopping mall!!
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Offline Twynkle

Re: HMY Britannia (The Royal Yacht)
« Reply #1 on: Dec 11, 2011, 02:34 PM »
Quote from: Rob Lightbody on Dec 11, 2011, 02:10 PM
I read yesterday in one of the shipping magazines in W.H.Smith's newsagent, that Britannia is to be dry docked next month for the first time since 1997.

Thats good, I thought.  Then I read on.  The refit will involve 'further structural alterations'.

What on earth are they doing to her now!?  The only alteration that beautiful, beautiful historic yacht needs, is an alteration to her location, to not be behind a hideous concrete shopping mall!!

Hi Rob

When we visited her in September, they were already preparing for her dry docking.
On coming across the person in charge of the organisation, there was an opportunity to express the general sense of serious dismay / concern about the cafe etc - think it was taken quite seriously!
There are a team working on board - possibly as volunteers with experience. One of the guys had worked as a crew member in the engine rooms on other RN ships and showed me some of the parts of the ship that are yet to be opened to the public.
I understood that  repairs and maintenance had been 'ordered' by the 'authorities' - possibly the MCA??

We can only hope...
Rosie
« Last Edit: Dec 11, 2011, 02:36 PM by Twynkle »
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Offline Twynkle

Re: HMY Britannia (The Royal Yacht)
« Reply #2 on: Dec 31, 2011, 05:08 PM »
31.12.2011 - The Times:
'Britannia's month off'
'The Royal Yacht Britannia is to close to the public today for a month to go into dry dock to have her hull repainted.
The tourist attraction will be moved from her berth for the first time in 14 years, but will travel only across the harbor in Leith.
Britannia, launched in April 1953, will re-open on February 1st.
Last year she drew more that 275,000 visitors, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.'
« Last Edit: Jan 06, 2012, 12:38 PM by Rob Lightbody »
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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #3 on: Jan 06, 2012, 12:36 PM »
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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #4 on: Jan 06, 2012, 12:46 PM »
Quote
The iconic yacht is tilting on its starboard side after developing a leak in a door seal.

What sort of door is underwater?
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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #5 on: Jan 06, 2012, 01:01 PM »
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Offline Twynkle

Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #6 on: Jan 06, 2012, 01:43 PM »
The Herald, with overhead photo.
Her power was off, hence the need for the fire service for pumping.
Difficult to believe that her shell doors weren't in order - the insurance / maritime authorities might be raising eyebrows....
Could she have moved out of true because of that beastly cafe being perched on board?
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/royal-yacht-britannia-starts-taking-on-water.1325856105

A video from the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16444673
« Last Edit: Jan 06, 2012, 02:18 PM by Twynkle »
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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #7 on: Jan 06, 2012, 03:44 PM »
From what I can gather, when they removed the last mooring line, the ship listed to starboard by 4 degrees.  The mooring line must have been holding her upright (which doesn't sound a good idea to me?!)  They couldn't quickly correct this, because the ship was without power for the move and had to ask for fire service assistance.  The list caused a "new" door to go below the waterline ands start leaking (I don't like the idea of a door that gets submerged with only a 4 degree list - is this normal on a ship?) which made the list worse.

All in all, not a good day for them.  I'd have been very upset to see her on her side...
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Offline pete cain

Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #8 on: Jan 06, 2012, 03:56 PM »
Hey Rob, they havn't done silly things like putting viewing windows  on her have they? similar to Queen Mary, so people can gawp out, something like that would be the only ''new''  addition, perhaps, & maybe Rosie is right about the abomination up top, maybe has shifted her centre of gravity, (certainly taken away her Gravitas), just a few thoughts for consideration.
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Offline Twynkle

Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #9 on: Jan 06, 2012, 04:47 PM »
Royal Yacht Britannia's list problem fixed
they are moving her now
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16440827

That is a truly great relief....
« Last Edit: Jan 06, 2012, 04:49 PM by Twynkle »
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Offline Cruisemarsh

Re: Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #10 on: Jan 06, 2012, 10:48 PM »
Phew! That was a close shave. Could have ended badly, thankfully she is alright and has been moved. Such a wonderful looking ship.
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Offline Twynkle

Re: Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #11 on: Jan 07, 2012, 11:50 AM »
A message received this morning,  from 'The Royal Yacht Britannia'

'Hi Rosie - delighted to report that Britannia is now safe and secure in dry dock at Leith. After removing the final mooring, the ship listed 4 degrees to starboard which allowed some water to leak through a sealed door. With the combined efforts of our experienced maintenance team and Lothian & Borders Fire Rescue Service, within a couple of hours she was on an even keel and able to be towed into dry dock.
 Although slightly later that scheduled, it was a great sight to see her out on the water.'
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Offline Bruce Nicholls

Re: Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #12 on: Jan 07, 2012, 12:03 PM »
My guess is that in this locked none tidal basin she was not going up and down with the tides and so could be moored very tightly to stop her moving fore and aft, which would cause problems with the location of the fixed gangways. If water had then either been drained or leaked from the port ballast tanks, or the starboard tanks had gained water, the mooring lines would probably hold her upright. As soon as these were released she would assume her natural position for the current state of ballast. The leaking door was a side issue. Changes in her state of ballast would not be noticed as long as they made her list away from they quayside and so would not be corrected routinely as they would if she was floating free.
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Online Rob Lightbody

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Royal Yacht faulty door seal fixed
« Reply #13 on: Jan 12, 2012, 06:38 PM »
Quote from: The Press Association
A faulty door seal which leaked and left the Royal Yacht Britannia tilting at its berth has been fixed, officials have said.]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iUPexJq428FQEj1Uz8_K9SGJED2Q?docId=N0951681326385987870A

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Offline Twynkle

Re: Royal Yacht Britannia moves to Dry Dock
« Reply #14 on: Jan 18, 2012, 11:04 PM »
The Royal Yacht Britannia is now back in her usual berth, the work having been completed earlier than anticipated.
She is due to be opened for visitors on February 1st.
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