A chapter of Aberdeen’s seafaring heritage is to sail into the history books when the last city-built ship makes its final journey next year.
Forged at the Granite City’s Hall Russell yard in 1989, the RMS St Helena will complete her working life thousands of miles from home in the South Atlantic island that bears her name.
One of only a handful of vessels still in operation to bear the title RMS (Royal Mail Ship), the 6,767 tonne liner will finish its service to one of the world’s remotest communities in February.
St Helena, a British overseas territory where Napoleon was famously exiled to in 1815, has long relied on the ship’s journeys around the world bringing vital supplies to the 10-mile long island’s 4,500 people.
With the ability to carry 3,000 tonnes of cargo and 150 passengers, the ship will be put up for sale but is unlikely to operate on the same scale.
With the opening of a long-awaited airport link looming, the ship is set to finally retire from the Atlantic.
Former crane operator Davie Morrice worked on the St Helena project during his 10 years at the yard, and admits he still finds it disappointing it closed.
He said: “It’s disgraceful that this is the last Aberdeen-built ship. We should still be building ships all over Britain.”
Council deputy provost Alan Donnelly himself worked in shipbuilding at Swan Hunters yard in his native Tyneside before joining the Merchant Navy.
He said: “The city has a long and proud nautical tradition and it is sad that this is closing a chapter of our history.
“I think many people in the city have long and happy memories of Hall Russell and it is interesting to note just now far ships built in Aberdeen went across the world.”
A spokesman for the city’s maritime museum said: “Since her launch by HRH Prince Andrew in 1991, St Helena has been sailing from Cape Town to St Helen roughly 6-8 a month as a vital link to the rest of the world, delivering both cargo and passengers.
“Hall Russell played a major role in Aberdeen’s ship building industry of the city and built a number of important naval and cargo ships, as well as fishing vessels and trawlers.
“Aberdeen Maritime Museum looks after their archive, which includes hundreds of ship plans, drawings, models, photographs as well as a host of artefacts relating to shipbuilding at the yard.”
The ship’s owners, AW Ship Management, did not respond to requests for comment.
