Scotts-built ship attracts crowd

Eric Baxter • Published 6 Sep 2010 14:00

ONE of the finest ships ever built by Scotts of Greenock proved to be a big attraction on Saturday.

Almost 3,000 people went on the Fort Rosalie during an open day at Ocean Terminal.

A steady stream waited for conducted tours of the ship.

And its commanding officer said he was delighted to see so many showing an interest in his vessel, above.

Captain Vernon Ramsey-Smith, 52, said it was a pleasure to bring Rosalie back to the town where she was built.

He added: “It’s very important to bring the ship back to where she was launched and to let local people see what was produced here in the past.”

The 23,000-tonne stores replenishment ship is one of the largest vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxliiary, which has 16 vessels in its fleet and is part of the Royal Navy. Rosalie is 185 metres in length and carries 140 crew.

The visit is the start of events to mark next year’s 300th anniversary of Scotts.

The stop-over was arranged by The Friends of Scotts Shipbuilders, a number of retired senior managers who were involved in the building of the ship, which was known as Fort Grange when she was launched in December 1976.

Her name was changed in 2000 to avoid confusion with the tanker/replenishment ship RFA Fort George.

Andy Gunn, of Gourock, and chairman of the Friends, said: “The group came about as a result of a number of retired senior Scotts’ managers, who were involved in the build of the Fort Rosalie, being invited by Captain Ramsay-Smith to visit the ship last August at Glen Mallan in Loch Long.

“It’s great to see so many people coming along to visit the ship at the Ocean Terminal. It demonstrates yet again Inverclyde’s deep interest in ships - and particularly ships built on the Clyde.”

Mr Gunn added that, while people get invited to see ships being launched, it is unusual for them to get on board the finished product - especially more than 30 years later.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 06 Sep 10

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