A huge new ship has appeared in Leith today, and has docked right in front of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal.

The gigantic Caledonian Vanguard is a behemoth of a supply vessel. She was built 15 years ago and is currently sailing under the flag of the Cayman Islands: she is an impressive 93.45 metres long.

A platform supply vessel (PSV) is a ship specially designed to supply offshore oil and gas platforms. They move goods, tools, equipment and staff to and from the platforms: the Caledonian Vanguard travelled to Edinburgh from Aberdeen, a journey that took her 8 hours in total.

The ship is so big because she has to carry huge tanks for things like diesel fuel, water and chemicals that offshore oil platforms need to carry out their day-to-day functions. PSV's also carry chemical waste back to shore for proper recycling or disposal.

Platform Supply Vessels are also used to help reduce the extent of oil spillage in the high seas; some of these vessels are equipped with a firefighting capability and fire monitors for fighting potentially catastrophic platform fires.

Other vessels are equipped with tools, chemicals and personnel to help increase an oil well's production.

Often half of the crew are specialists such as scientists, geologists or other people involved in special jobs related to operations on the oil platforms.

Crews sign on to work and live aboard the platform supply vessels for an extended period of time, working in shifts.

Hopefully they'll be allowed onshore for a fun trip round the shops at Ocean Terminal today before they have to head back up to the North Sea oil fields.

Read the rest here:

The story behind the latest humongous ship to dock at Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Live