Royal Navy survey ship HMS Scott arrives in Portsmouth for rare city visit
One of the Royal Navy’s largest warships has arrived in Portsmouth for a rare visit to the city.
HMS Scott sailed into the harbour shortly after 1pm on Saturday for its first stop in Portsmouth for nearly a decade.
The 13,500-tonne ocean survey vessel and plays a key role in scanning the sea floor to gather data which can be used in military operations.
She recently carried out a successful deployment to the south Atlantic, and arrived back at her home port of Devonport in Plymouth after 10 months at sea.
Navy enthusiasts gathered at the seafront yesterday to catch a glimpse of Scott as she manoeuvred into the port.
Commissioned in June 1997, the survey vessel is packed with a sophisticated array of sensors to help map up the ocean floor.
Scott used its equipment in the wake of the deadly Boxing Day tsunami of 2004, which killed about 228,000 people, to help scientists understand how the tragedy unfolded.
The 430ft ship briefly called Portsmouth home between August 2008 and June 2009, where she underwent a huge overhaul at the city’s naval base.
In April the Royal Navy said Scott would be undergoing cleaning and maintenance following her return, before resuming survey work later this year.
