16. HMS Scott, 31 July 2023

   


Members of the Company were delighted to accept an invitation to visit HMS Scott in Plymouth. Our support for HMS Scott is part of our Livery commitment to the services.  As the Royal Navy’s only ocean survey vessel, HMS Scott undertakes sonar mapping of the ocean floor worldwide and is currently the fifth largest ship in the fleet.  She has recently been working in the Caribbean.  She entered into service in 1997 and we were pleased to have Rear Admiral Bob Mark, her first captain and member of the Water Conservators, with us on our visit.  Bob gave us fascinating insights into the commissioning and service of the ship.  We were very pleased that it has recently been announced that HMS Scott will be refurbished for a 10 year service extension.


After a formal welcome the Captain explained how a company of just 78 with only 52 on board at any one time are available for operations over 300 days per year.  He described the leadership and support culture on the ship and the landside backup for staff and families.


The members of the crew enthusiastically described their different roles.  Of special interest was the working of the high resolution multi-beam echo sounder which working at depths of 5000m surveyed a swathe of sea bed many kilometres wide and covered 150 km2 of floor per hour.  We saw impressive charts of the sea bed and the site of the landslide which had caused the Indonesian Tsunami.

 


We heard about the propulsion and manoeuvrability of the ship with a single shaft variable pitch propeller and bow thrusters.  We saw how it was protected from unwanted attention.


The person overboard procedure was described to us including how quickly the rescue launch can be deployed.  As it was raining we decided against putting them to the test.


A past captain, the current Captain and Rear Admiral Bob shared details of the history and deployments of HMS Scott, which were fascinating.


We were treated to lunch provided by HMS Scott’s twice award-winning catering team.  Over lunch I was interested to hear how catering had evolved reflecting the ideas and imagination of the team and meeting individual crew requirements.  Due to the nature of the deployments meeting the demands of the ship and crew is a valuable learning course in logistics, planning and adaptability.

During lunch I was pleased to meet crew who are undertaking degrees in Oceanography at the University of Plymouth, and a writer.  I was impressed by the diversity of the team working together on common objectives.


We were given a firefighting demonstration after lunch.  We saw the careful and controlled way in which the first responders then the back up resources were deployed.  Minutes later a member of the firefighting team was back providing armed protection of the ship.


It was a fascinating day and I am grateful to the Captain and his team for making us all so welcome and sharing the role and work of HMS Scott with us.  I was very pleased that the Water Conservators are associated with HMS Scott and I look forward to the Company developing our relationship.  This includes updating the association document signed on 13 October 1998!



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