HMS Scott (H131)

HMS "Scott" (H131) is an ocean-going survey vessel of the Royal Navy. Not only is she the largest vessel in the Fleet's Hydrographic Squadron, and the sixth largest in the entire fleet, but she is also the largest survey vessel in Western Europe. She was ordered in 1995 to replace the ageing HMS "Hecla"; she was built at the Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon and commissioned on 20 June 1997.

"Scott" is now the Royal Navy's sole ocean-going survey vessel, but she can remain at sea for up to 300 days a year, thanks to her novel crew rotation system - her complement of 63 is divided into three sections: two sections are required to keep the ship operational, with the third on shore on leave or in training. When the ship returns to port, one crew section on board is replaced by the section on shore. The ship can then deploy again almost immediately.

As with all of the Royal Navy's large survey vessels, "Scott" has an auxiliary role in support of minesweepers and minehunters.

In February 2005 "Scott" surveyed the seabed around the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, which varies in depth between 1,000 m and 5,000 m (3,300 ft and 16,500 ft). The survey, conducted using a high-resolution, multi-beam sonar system, revealed that the earthquake had made a huge impact on the topography of the seabed.

In September 2006 "Scott" was granted the freedom of the city of Swansea.

She is named after the Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott RN.

Affiliations

*42 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers