OK, so this Wordless Wednesday does have a few words!
Some more of Sunday’s pictures taken on board the SAS PROTEA, the South African Navy’s hydrographic survey vessel, She is painted white to denote that it she unarmed.
The ‘SAS’ stands for ‘South African Ship’. Pre 1950s, ‘HM’ used to be tagged onto the front of that, denoting ‘His Majesty’s’.
She was built by Yarrow & Co Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, launched on the Clyde on 14th July 1971. and taken into service on 23 May 1972. She has a helideck and a hangar for a light helicopter.
Although survey is her main function, she has also participated in sea rescue operations.
© Colonialist June 2013 (WordPress)
Colonialist's Blog 
I think there was a law (could be it’s still in place) that if you tow a ship in distress, it becomes yours and all that it carries is your booty? Is that what the towing hook is for on this one? 😉
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What a beautiful ship. Col. You got some great snaps. 🙂
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It was a good day for it! Ta.
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I used to live in Bristol whence arose the saying Shipshape and Bristol fashion, and in the words of the typical Bristolian, exulting in past maritime glory, “Where’s dese pictures to?” Translation: “In which port did you snap these photographs?”
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I recently looked up the origins of that term. Both most convincing contenders come from the violent tides in Bristol requiring sturdy hulls and cargoes well secured. However, some contend that it related to ships built in Bristol, while others to visiting ships which would have to be prepared for the conditions.
The SAS Protea is on a visit to my home village of Durban.
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Some village, that Durban!
Bristol’s port was on the tidal River Avon, debouching a few miles later into the Severn estuary reportedly with the second largest tidal range in the world, over 14 metres. This meant that old wooden vessels were at risk of breaking their backs if they got their timing wrong or got stuck in the notorious Avon mud. As vessels got bigger Bristol lost out to Liverpool which could accommodate them with little or no risk.
I don’t suppose that’s a problem in Durban!
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Over 14 metres? Ouch! thought the Solent was bad enough with tides, when I was yachting there.
Durban is very modest by comparision.
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Must have been a good outing that Col.
Been so long since I’ve been in a position to see those ships, other than on pictures of course 🙂
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They are more fun up close and personal.
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She is beautiful Col and you took stunning shots! 😀
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Lovely day for touring a floating boat.
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It was.
*snigger* Any day would have been bad for touring a sinking one!
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Love your photo’s
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Glad you like them, and thanks for saying so!
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I’m sure you’ll be forgiven for adding the interesting facts to the post
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I hope so! 🙂
Anyway, I see the ‘Wordless’ is generally taken very loosely.
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Lovely pictures in glorious sunshine, Col. It looks like a great ship.
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A very pleasant craft, indeed. Not very big. A great little ship actually fits! I wouldn’t mind working on her.
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Well she hails from Scotland so what’s not to like 🙂
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You are, of course, completely unbiased … 🙂
From her size I think in heavy seas she could have tartan-ick tendencies!
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Lol…..Indeed, completely unbiased 🙂
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