Rmas pintail

[Finkenwerder]

The 1960s built Wild Duck class mooring and salvage vessel RMAS Pintail was photographed in the mid 1980s completely aground on a drying patch in the Hamoaze (Plymouth), It was rumoured that the "helmsman had lost control" which covers a multitude of scenarios! Does anyone have any knowledge or photos of this event? I'll bet local management weren't amused!

[j.copp]

I’ve recently put up the picture of her aground at West Mud on the Hamoaze, with the story. Seems like you have overlooked this.

[Makko]

J. Copp - Copy and paste the link to your photo for Finkenwerder's sake.

Best Regards,
Dave

[Makko]

I remembered your photo!

[j.copp]

Sorry, I’m not a copy and paste sorta guy, mainly because I’ve never learnt that. The picture is is my gallery. Surely that is the easy way to see a picture ?

[Makko]

Done, I hope, J.Copp:

https://www.shippinghistory.com/gall...&cutoffdate=-1

Rgds.
Dave

[j.copp]

Amazing, how clever is that. Still don’t understand, if you were looking for Pintail stuff, I’d hit the gallery first to see if the rare picture was there ! Thanks for helping Mr.Finkenwerder.

[Makko]

I clicked on your name.
Then gallery, and looked for the photo.
I opened the photo in "another tab".
I then selected the title that appeared in the "page bar" (second line on the tab page), CTRL-C (Copy).
Opened your post again and then, in reply, CTRL-V (paste).
Voila!!
Best Rgds.
Dave

[Makko]

I, often, have to request HELP! from my daughters!

[j.copp]

That’s mind boggling. Impressed. Cheers.

[Makko]

Cheers to you!
Best Regards,
Dave

[Engine Serang]

Are you docking with the Space Station?

[Finkenwerder]

Thanks Makko and J Copp a very interesting photo and it leads me to wonder what happened. I know the Wild Duck Class mooring vessels were capable of taking the bottom but not I imagine in a scenario like that and with the workboat hard and dry too! As a sometime master of these vessels, including sisters of this one, albeit somewhere other than Devonport I spent much time trying to avoid situations like that. The resulting inquiry would have been interesting. Like most naval bases and vessels based there, the Inquiry Board would probably have consisted of Captain of the Port/Queen's Harbour Master (RN), Deputy Queen's Harbour Master (RN) and Shipping Master (RMAS). A report would have been passed to the Director of Marine Services in Bath (the boss of the RMAS nationwide) and in all likelihood a "We fail to understand" letter issued together with any disciplinary action.

These days of course there is no RMAS and the private contractor Serco Defence have no mooring vessels; they put it out to a sub-contract with Briggs Marine, so in all probability Red Duster rules apply.