Scott Class Ocean Survey Ship

H.M.S Scott is not only the newest and largest vessel in the Hydrographic Surveying Squadron but the largest Ocean Survey vessel in Western Europe. Ordered from BAeSEMA in January 1995 in order to replace H.M.S Hecla, Scott was built by the North Devon ship building company Appledore and was completed by early 1997 and commissioned in September that year. Along with rest of the squadron she is based at Devonport which is most appropriate considering she is named after one of Plymouth's most famous sons- Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

She displaces 13,500 tones, measures 131.1 metres in length with a bean of 21.5 metres and an 8.3 metre draught. powered by two Krupp MaK 9M32 9-Cylinder Desiels Scott has a speed of 18 knots.

Scott cost £40 million pounds to build and is fitted with some of the most advanced hydrographic and meteorological equipment available including a multi beam echo sounder. She is designed to spend as much time at sea as possible, usually about 300 days a year. This is possible due to the unique crew rotation system whereby her total complement of 63 is divided into three teams. There are two 21 strong teams onboard at anyone time, with a third tem on leave or shore training. The ship also has remarkably spacious accommodation and recreation facilities.

Like her predecessor H.M.S Hecla, Scott can also support minesweeping and amphibious operations. In 1998 the pennant numbers of the entire squadron, including Scott, changed from the prefix 'A' to 'H', marking the integration of these ships into the surface flotilla.

Ship Details

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© Written and researched by Jeremy Olver. Last updated 29th October 2000. Disclaimer.