Now and again I delve into the files to find something iconic from the past, so here is the Grampian Chieftain one of the early North Star standby boats on its way outward bound from Aberdeen into the North Sea. It is a former fishing vessel, hence well used to being out there in weather conditions which would be daunting for much larger ships. North Star was one of the earliest companies offering standby boats. It was owned by the Craig Group which initially used its fishing fleet, made more or less redundant by the Icelandic cod wars. Today its ownership has changed and there are no fishing vessels left in the fleet, and they are called ERRVs. Sounds important doesn't it.

Photo taken in 2002 by George Craigen and posted here on 24th September 2018.