Service Record

From

To

Clan Menzies

Cadet

12/1970

1971

Clan MacInnes

Cadet

1971

1972

Clan MacLay

Cadet

11/1972

1973

King James

Cadet

1973

1973

Clan MacIndoe

3rd Officer

1/1974


Hartland Point

3rd Officer

1975


Clan MacLean

3rd Officer

1976


Hartland Point - 1975

I joined her as 3rd Officer on the Tyne, then we headed out to sea for trials that felt like they would never end. After finally returning, we conducted load tests on the two cranes to verify their Safe Working Load. From there, we made our way up to Invergordon to await a job — but nothing ever came through.

There was some discussion about installing a heliport, but it never materialized.

What stands out most from that time—aside from my fascination with the old Royal Navy storerooms and the working forge—was the struggle management had in blending the shore-based approach with the Merchant Navy structure. The shoreside team wasn’t too pleased about us wearing uniforms!

I still have the press release from when we completed sea trials and officially became operational. It was quite an experience, even if only a brief one — about a month, all told. I signed off in Invergordon and caught the train down to Penzance... but that’s a story for another day.

Dennis Ayling

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