Workers, MPA staff and board members gathered at the harbour quayside to name the port’s newest pilot boat on March 24th. The Inch Burn was named by Mrs Joyce Jessop, widow of former Montrose Port Authority board member Sandy Jessop.
Mrs Jessop said: “ I was delighted to be invited to name the new pilot boat and glad that my family was able visit the port where Sandy had had such an active role.”
The vessel was blessed by Peter Donald, the chaplain for Montrose Port. A bottle of Duncan Taylor’s award-winning Black Bull whisky was used for the naming ceremony, ensuring the new pilot boat was named in a spirited style.
The Inch Burn was named in Montrose’s well-established tradition of naming pilot boats after local rivers, streams and landmarks. Previous vessels have included the Glen Esk and the South Esk.
The Inch Burn is a specially converted former RNLI Tyne-class lifeboat. A few months ago, the port purchased another Tyne-class lifeboat, renamed the North Esk, which has performed so well that MPA decided to replace both older pilot vessels as part of their ongoing investment programme.
Harbour Master Tom Hutchison explained: “At Montrose, our pilots bring vessels 24 hours a day, in all sorts of weather and sea conditions so it’s vital we have pilot boats that meet the needs of the cargo ships and oil and gas vessels which call here.”
Nik Scott-Gray, chief executive of Montrose Port Authority added, “We would like to thank Joyce Jessop and Peter Donald for ensuring that the Inch Burn is now officially commissioned. The Inch Burn will play an important role in ensuring we provide an efficient and reliable pilotage service at Montrose, helping to ensure we offer the best possible range of services and facilities to port users.”
Montrose Port Authority
Nestling in a sheltered haven on the river Esk, within a mile of open sea, the thriving port of Montrose offers a cost-effective alternative for vessels using Scotland's East Coast.
