A huge new ship has appeared in Leith today, and has docked right in front of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Ocean Terminal.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Other vessels are equipped with tools, chemicals and personnel to help increase an oil well's production.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Crews sign on to work and live aboard the platform supply vessels for an extended period of time, working in shifts. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Read the rest here: <\/p>\n
The story behind the latest humongous ship to dock at Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh - Edinburgh Live<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 Continue reading