M.V. Fairtry II

Vessel name on Arrival: M.V. British Voyager

Original Builder: William Simons & Company Limited of Renfrew, Scotland

Original Yard No: 808

Official Number: 300611

Vessel Type: Survey Vessel

GRT: 2839

Year Built: 1959

Arrival Date: 13/08/1984

Breakup Started: 15/08/1984

Date First Beached:

Date Breakup Completed:

Draught For’d:

Draught Aft:

Name Changes:

1959 :  Launched as stern fishing trawler FAIRTRY II for the South Georgia Company Limited of Leith

1967 :  Laid up at Tonsberg

1969 :  Owner name changed to Christian Salvesen of Leith, vessel name unchanged

1971 :  Sold to Vickers Oceanics Limited of Barrow. Converted to serve as a Mother-Ship for Submersibles and also as a Diving Support Vessel.  Name changed to VICKERS VOYAGER.  Registered in Barrow.  Gross tonnage following modifications for new role increased from as-built 2,839 to 3,004

1979 :  Company changed to British Oceanics Limited and vessel name changed to BRITISH VOYAGER

1983  :  Vessel acquired by ship-broker BUE SHIPS Limited, Leith

1984  :  Vessel sent for breaking to WSSCL of Troon, arriving there under tow of the Clyde tug THUNDERER

Other Information:

Launched :  27-01-1959                    Completed :  May 1959

Re-Engined in 1966

Demolition was was anything but a straightforward job, a large (200 tonne) crane had to be employed to remove some of the very heavy equipment on board, e.g. Diving Bells, Decompression Chambers, miles of heavy piping, much of which was carefully salvaged and returned to Leith for future use in a new Diving Support Vessel being planned at that time for Aberdeen.

( This was the last ship to be broken up at Troon and ended 80 years of shipbreaking history there )

According to a local historian, a total of 443 ships were broken up by the West of Scotland Shipbreaking Coy.