The Northern Lighthouse Board’s new vessel POLE STAR, currently under construction at GONDAN Shipbuilders, Castropol, Asturias Spain, was launched on the 14 January 2025.
The vessel successfully left the slipway and entered the Ria del Eo before being towed to a berth at the shipyard. he new vessel, designed by OSK Design and Seaplace, has an overall length of 70m and a beam of 16m, ready to accommodate 26 crew members. It has 3 hybrid electric propulsion engines of 1860kWe. It has 3 cranes, one of them offshore of 20 to 14 m, and 4644kWh batteries that help its energy efficiency.
Phil Day, Director of Operations with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) said: “This is a momentous occasion for the shipyard and for NLB. To see the vessel successfully launch into the water is a major milestone and means we are well on our way to taking delivery of a new state-of-the-art hybrid powered ship to support our vital safety service to mariners.”
Alvaro Platero Díaz, President of GONDAN Shipbuilders.“As the shipyard honoured to build the NLV Pole Star—the fifth vessel of this name under the Northern Lighthouse Board’s command since 1892—the launching ceremony is an exciting milestone. It marks the moment when the structural elements of a complex engineering project come together to finally become a ship.
“We deeply appreciate NLB’s commitment to excellence from day one, which has driven the yard to deliver a highly sophisticated and durable vessel that will enable NLB to fulfil its mission for many years to come.”
The ship will now require around nine months of fitting out work before it is ready for delivery.
The new vessel which replaces the current POLE STAR will incorporate the latest technology to minimise the impact on the environment. The ship will have enhanced capability to help deal with the effects of Climate Change, and will contribute to the ambitious environmental targets set out in the UK Government Clean Maritime Plan.
NLB representatives Phil Day Director of Operations; Chris Somerville Ship’s Master; Jonathan Stewart 2nd Engineer; Adrian Abraham ETO and Donald Lawrie Chief Engineer were present at the event to celebrate this important milestone. Nelson Piçarra from Team Electric and Alvydas Pilibaitis from OSK Design who form part of the NLB site team were also at the launch.
