THV Galatea

Last updated

THV-Galatea-1.jpg
History
Trinity House Ensign.svg United Kingdom
NameGalatea
Owner Williams & Glyn's Leasing Company
Operator Trinity House
Port of registry London
Ordered11 March 2004 [1]
Builder Remontowa, Gdańsk, Poland
Laid down11 October 2005
Launched26 July 2006 by Mrs Jane de Halpert, wife of Trinity House’s Executive Chairman
Christened17 October 2007, London
Homeport Harwich
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeLloyd's + 100A1, +LMC, +UMS, CAS, DP(AA)
TypeMulti-Function Tender
Tonnage
  • 3,569 GT
  • 1,101 NT
  • 1,233  DWT tonnes
Length o/a: 84.20m BP: 75.00m
Beam16.5 m
HeightAir Draught 30 m
Draught4.25 m
Depthto Main Deck: 7.20 m
Installed power
  • 3 × Wärtsilä 8L20 (1,368 ekW)
  • 2 × Wärtsilä 4L20 (684 ekW)
Propulsion Diesel-electric: Rolls-Royce Azimuth Propellers; Two Bow Thrusters
Speed12.5  knots
Endurance35 days
Capacity30 cabins
Complement8 Officers & 11 PO/Crew
Aviation facilitiesforward helicopter flight deck
Notes [2] [3]

THV Galatea is a lighthouse tender operated by Trinity House, the body responsible for the operation of lighthouses and marine navigation aids around the coasts of England, Wales and the Channel Islands.

Contents

History

THV Galatea was launched in July 2006, replacing the THV Mermaid, in service with Trinity House since 1987. Mermaid was sold to the Gardline group of Great Yarmouth, for conversion to survey vessel. [4] Galatea is a sister vessel to the NLV Pharos. [5] The Queen and Prince Philip visited the Pool of London on 17 October 2007 for the naming of Galatea, moored alongside HMS Belfast. [3]

This is the second Trinity House vessel named Galatea. The first, a paddle yacht built in 1868, served Trinity House until 1895. She was named in honour of HMS Galatea which had recently completed a round-the-world voyage under the command of Queen Victoria's second son, Captain the Duke of Edinburgh, who was Master of Trinity House at the time. Galatea attended the commissioning of Eddystone, Wolf and other lighthouses designed by Sir James Douglass. [6] Galatea featured in the 2008 BBC Documentary Comedy, Three Men in a Boat , where Dara Ó Briain, Rory McGrath and Griff Rhys Jones used the vessel to get to the Scilly isles.

In Greek mythology, Galatea was a sea nymph who attended Poseidon (the god of the sea). She loved Acis, the shepherd son of Pan. However, Acis was killed by the jealous Cyclops Polyphemus and, with her heart broken, Galatea turned into a stream of water. [6]

Service

THV Galatea provides aids to navigation for the safe passage of mariners, including maintenance work, buoy deployment, wreck location marking and towing. She is also able to carry out additional tasks such as hydrographic surveying and wreck finding and contract commercial work. She is equipped for: [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity House</span> Official authority for lighthouses in England

The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond, also known as Trinity House, is the official authority for lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. Trinity House is also responsible for the provision and maintenance of other navigational aids, such as lightvessels, buoys, and maritime radio/satellite communication systems. It is also an official deep sea pilotage authority, providing expert navigators for ships trading in Northern European waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buoy</span> Floating structure or device

A buoy is a floating device that can have many purposes. It can be anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift with ocean currents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightvessel stations of Great Britain</span>

The history of the many lightvessel stations of Great Britain goes back over 250 years to the placement of the world's first lightship at the Nore in the early 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship's tender</span> Boat used to service larger ships

A ship's tender, usually referred to as a tender, is a boat, or a larger ship, used to service or support other boats or ships. This is generally done by transporting people or supplies to and from shore or another ship.

The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), previously known as International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1957 to collect and provide nautical expertise and advice. IALA is also known by its French name of Association Internationale de Signalisation Maritime (AISM).

USCGC <i>Mesquite</i> (WLB-305) Seagoing buoy tender scuttled in Lake Superior

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Research vessel</span> Ship or boat designed, modified, or equipped to carry out research at sea

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Lighthouse Board</span>

The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) is the general lighthouse authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is a non-departmental public body responsible for marine navigation aids around coastal areas.

Channel Lightvessel

Channel was the name of a lightvessel station located in the English Channel between 1979 and August 2021, when it was replaced with a light buoy. It was also one of the 22 coastal weather stations whose conditions were reported in the BBC Shipping Forecast. The vessel's position was 49°55′N2°54′W, approximately 56 km (35 mi) north-northwest of Guernsey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navigational aid</span> Marker to assist in safe passage making

A navigational aid (NAVAID), also known as aid to navigation (ATON), is any sort of signal, markers or guidance equipment which aids the traveler in navigation, usually nautical or aviation travel. Common types of such aids include lighthouses, buoys, fog signals, and day beacons.

NLV <i>Pole Star</i>

NLV Pole Star is a lighthouse tender operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), the body responsible for the operation of lighthouses and marine navigation aids around the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man.

USCGC <i>Fir</i> (WLM-212) Lighthouse tender

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Fir was the last lighthouse tender built specifically for the United States Lighthouse Service to resupply lighthouses and lightships, and to service buoys. Fir was built by the Moore Drydock Company in Oakland, California in 1939. On 22 March 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Tender Fir was launched. She was steam driven with twin screws, 175 feet (53 m) in length, had a beam of 32 feet (9.8 m), drew 11 feet 3 inches (3.43 m) of water, and displaced 885 tons. Fir was fitted with a reinforced bow and stern, and an ice-belt at her water-line for icebreaking. She was built with classic lines and her spaces were lavishly appointed with mahogany, teak, and brass. The crew did intricate ropework throughout the ship. The cost to build Fir was approximately US$390,000. Fir's homeport was Seattle, Washington for all but one of her fifty one years of service when she was temporarily assigned to Long Beach, California when USCGC Walnut was decommissioned on 1 July 1982.

USCGC <i>Fir</i> (WLB-213)

USCGC Fir (WLB-213) is a Juniper-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. USCGC Fir is under the Operational Control (OPCON) of the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District and is homeported in Astoria, Oregon. Fir's primary area of responsibility is the coastal waters, river bars and high seas of the Washingtonian and Oregonian coasts. USCGC Fir conducts heavy lift aids to navigation operations, law enforcement and other missions as directed.

NLV <i>Pharos</i>

NLV Pharos is a lighthouse tender operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), the body responsible for the operation of lighthouses and marine navigation aids around the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man.

The Directorate General of Coastal Safety has been established by the Turkish Republic Council Of Ministers’ decision on 12 May 1997 as a General Directorate and State owned Organization. The mission of the foundation is to assist and improve the safety of navigation in Turkish Waters. The organization’s core competences are:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anvil Point Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse

The Anvil Point Lighthouse is a fully-automated lighthouse located at Durlston Country Park near Swanage in Dorset, England. It is owned by Trinity House and currently operated as two holiday cottages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency wreck buoy</span> Marker buoy warning of a wreck

An Emergency wreck buoy is used to warn of a new wreck which has not yet been listed in maritime documents. The buoy is expected to be deployed for the first 24-72 hours after the wreck occurs. After that time more permanent buoyage should be deployed and charts updated.

USCGC <i>Ironwood</i> (WLB-297)

USCGC Ironwood (WAGL-297/WLB-297) was a Mesquite-class sea-going buoy tender operated by the United States Coast Guard. She served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War as well as a variety of domestic missions. She currently serves as a seamanship training vessel for Job Corps.

USCGC <i>Buttonwood</i>

USCGC Buttonwood (WAGL-306/WLB-306) was a Mesquite-class sea-going buoy tender operated by the United States Coast Guard. She served in World War II as well as a variety of domestic missions. After decommissioning she was acquired by the Dominican Republic Navy and renamed Almirante Didiez Burgos. She is still active as the flagship of the Dominican Navy.

<i>Light Vessel 72</i> Derelict British lighthouse ship

Light Vessel 72 was a light vessel of Trinity House, a British lighthouse authority. Constructed in Sunderland in 1903 she served as a navigational beacon in the British Isles until the Second World War. From June 1944 she was positioned off Normandy to mark a mineswept shipping lane used for the Operation Overlord landings. After the war she was stationed in the Bristol Channel until sold for scrap in 1973. Saved by the intervention of a scrapyard manager, she has lain on a mud bank in Neath, Wales, ever since. Several proposals have been made to restore her.

References

  1. "Multi-Function Tenders for Trinity House". Remontowa SA. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  2. "NLV Galatea". Trinity House. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Galatea Goes On Show". Maritime Journal. 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  4. "Trinity House tender Galatea". Harwich Haven Ships and Yachts. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  5. "The General Lighthouse Fund 2005 - 2006" (PDF). The Stationery Office. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Sea nymph' Galatea replaces Mermaid as Trinity House tender". Boating Cornwall. Retrieved 2 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  7. "Press Release: THV Galatea arrives in home port of Harwich". Trinity House. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.