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Stornoway Port Authority welcomes Danish tall-ship – with locals invited to come onboard
Stornoway Port Authority is playing host to the eye-catching Danish tall-ship the Georg Stage this week, with islanders invited onboard between 6pm and 8pm each evening.
The Georg Stage arrived in Stornoway on Wednesday and will remain on the east side of number one quay until Sunday.
The visit to Stornoway marks the latest in a number of port calls from traditional tall ship sail training vessels. The full-rigged Danish training ship, Danmark, was followed by the successful programme with the Swan, from Shetland, and a port call from Atlantica, from Sweden.
The training ship Georg Stage was built in 1934 at Frederikshavn Shipyard and is a fully rigged vessel with a permanent crew of 10 and 63 trainees.
The history of Georg Stage goes back some 125 years. The first ship sailing under this name – a slightly smaller fully rigged vessel, was launched in 1882 in Copenhagen. On the 25 May in the same year, the ship started her maiden voyage with 80 trainees on board.
The training ship belongs to the independent institution The Georg Stage Memorial Foundation, whose aim is: ‘To give young people wishing to go to sea, their first lesson in practical seamanship aboard a purpose-built training ship’. The foundation claims to be the oldest active training institution of its kind in the world.
Alex Macleod, Chief Executive at Stornoway Port Authority, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Georg Stage to Stornoway, and we hope that many locals take up the generous offer of going on board the vessel and appreciating its beauty.
“She is truly a sight to behold, and it is always fantastic to see these impressive tall ships sitting in the harbour. We have been very fortunate to welcome so many tall ships this summer, and hopefully this will continue for many years to come.”
A busy year for Stornoway Port Authority has seen the opening of the new £12 million Goat Island/Newton Basin development which will help deliver the Port’s vision to build a truly sustainable business that will bring economic benefits throughout the Outer Hebrides.
Work has also begun on Stornoway Port Authority’s eagerly awaited £49 million Deep Water Terminal, which will be ready to offer the cruise industry a new gateway to the Outer Hebrides ahead of the 2024 season.