SS Explorer facts for kids

SS Explorer at Leith in 2005
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	SS Explorer
Owner	Scottish Home Department
Operator	Department of Agriculture & Fisheries for Scotland
Port of registry	Leith
Ordered	1954
Builder	Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd., Aberdeen
Yard number	747
Launched	21 June 1955
Sponsored by	Lady Rachel Stuart
In service	1955
Out of service	1984
Homeport	Leith
Identification	Official number: 303098
Status	Museum ship
General characteristics
Type	Fisheries Research Trawler
Tonnage	862 GT
Length	202 ft 9 in (61.80 m)
Beam	32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
Depth	14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Ice class	Lloyds 100 A1
Propulsion	1,000 ihp (746 kW) triple expansion steam engine
Range	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × 24 ft (7.3 m) open aluminium lifeboats
Crew	38

The SS Explorer is a special ship. She is one of the very last steam-powered trawlers that can still sail. A trawler is a type of fishing boat that pulls a large net, called a trawl, through the water. The Explorer is officially based in Leith, which is the port for Edinburgh, Scotland.

This historic ship is listed on the National Historic Ships Register. This means she is recognized as an important part of the country's sea history. A group called the SS Explorer Preservation Society is working hard to fix her up. They are restoring her in the Edinburgh Dock in Leith, so she can be saved for the future.

The Explorer's Journey: A Look at Her History

The FRS Explorer was launched on June 21, 1955. Lady Rachel Stuart, whose husband was a government official for Scotland, officially launched the ship. Explorer was built by a company called Alexander Hall & Co. in Aberdeen, Scotland. She was made for the Scottish Home Department. Her job was to replace an older ship with the same name, which was built in 1917.

What Did the Explorer Do?

The Fishery Research Ship Explorer began working in 1956. She was operated by the Marine Laboratory in Aberdeen. The Explorer's main job was to study fish. She investigated where fish breed and where they find food. This helped scientists figure out how many fish could be caught without harming fish populations. She also monitored different types of fish species for the British market.

Besides studying fish, the Explorer also checked for pollution in the sea. She looked for fish diseases that could hurt fish catches. The ship was designed like a classic deep-sea trawler. This design was perfect for working in traditional fishing areas. Her hull was extra strong, allowing her to work in very cold places. These included the Arctic waters near Greenland and Iceland. She also sailed in the Barents Sea and White Sea, which are north of Russia.

Amazing Technology on Board

The SS Explorer was a very advanced ship for her time. She used a special type of engine called a triple-expansion steam engine. This engine was a peak example of steam technology. The ship was built using strong, riveted steel, which made her tough enough for ice. But her upper part, called the superstructure, was made of light aluminum.

Even though her main engine was an older, trusted design, she also had new technology. She had a pioneering hybrid diesel-electric power system. This system helped power her extra equipment. The SS Explorer was also one of the first ships of her kind to have an onboard computer. Today, computers and hybrid power systems are common on ships.

Saving a Historic Ship

In 1984, the SS Explorer's first working life ended. She was sold to be taken apart. The Aberdeen Maritime Museum wanted to buy her engine. It was historically important because it was the last one built in Aberdeen. But when they saw the whole ship, they were so impressed that they bought the entire vessel.

The museum planned to make her a floating museum in Aberdeen. However, they could not find a suitable place to dock her in the city for ten years. So, they decided to sell the ship for scrap metal. This news upset many people. It led to the creation of "The SS Explorer Preservation Society." This group wanted to save the Explorer and keep her safe for future generations.

Thanks to donations and fundraising, the society bought the ship from the scrap dealers. She was almost completely intact. The first steps to preserve her began while she was anchored again in the Cromarty Firth. But the ship needed a safe, permanent home. Wild animals, vandals, and bad weather were damaging her.

In 1996, the Explorer was involved in a small accident with an offshore oil support vessel. The society received money from the insurance. They used this money to bring her home to Leith. Leith was her original port of registration. Here, the restoration work could truly begin.

The Explorer was added to the National Register of Historic Vessels in 1996. This officially recognized her as a ship of national importance.