North Carr Light Vessel

Contact the Maritime Volunteer Service, MVS Tay,

Bob Richmond - 01382 542516 mobile - 07554 453535

Click for aerial views of the Tay

Click for River Tay Dolphins

MVS Tay gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of - The Port of Dundee (Forth Ports), Mr. Clive McKeag, Awards for All Scotland, The D.C. Thomson Charitable Trust, H.M. Revenue and Customs The Bell's Nautical Trust, The Tay Charitable Trust, The St. Katharine's Fund, The Robertson Trust,  The Alexander Moncur Trust,  The Mathew Trust,

From November to March Marigot and Badger are berthed alongside North Carr in Victoria Dock, Dundee. Both vessels are either being used for training in boathandling or we are working on them. Apart from a week off at Christmas and New Year there is no slack time. Our members do all the work needed to maintain Badger and Marigot to a high standard of seaworthiness, smart appearance, sound mechanical condition and they are kept fully in code as required for our passenger carrying duties.

Classroom training (Thursday Evening) continued over the winter. Powerboat Level 2 "Starting a Rib" and shadow animals. A difficult night.

Training in boathandling - bringing Badger alongside while maintenance work is done on Marigot

No, we don't do it for money. The sign was floating in the dock and some wally on board Badger thought it would be funny to fish it out and sail around like this for a bit.

Freelance dentist and bon viveur Callum Grant gives Marigot's reluctant windscreen wiper a good nip.

Boathandling training - for a thoroughbred seaboat, Badger still gave great service within the dock this winter.

Jim resealed all the frames.

Connor renovates a life ring bracket.

Running two coded vessels within an MVS unit alongside other craft is a responsibility and we don't rely on a fairy godmother or undue optimism to help out either.  It certainly takes dedication and a measure of realism but given the enthusiasm, motivation, good humour and common aims that exist within Tay unit - it is quite achievable.

It's not just one or two folk working on these vessels, either - we have a core membership of many skilled and practical folk who donate valuable time to the vessels on a regular basis throughout the winter. 

Mr Varnish himself..... "Don't call me Ron Seal"

George takes a break from painting the forward heads...and relaxes by varnishing handles instead.

Mr Varnish hides modestly while Marigot's starboard wheelhouse is admired.

A full illustrated account of restoration/ maintenance work done on Marigot in 2008-9 will be compiled asap and links provided here.

Also.... an account of MVS Tay providing a vessel (Badger) for a BBC Scotland crew filming a shoot of the River Tay for "Landward" will be complied asap. This is to be screened on Friday 24th April at 7pm on BBC1

Badger Comes Out

Badger was first to be let out back in to the Tay. She went straight onto training. Here, she enters Broughty Harbour with this year's qualifying skippers on the helm.

Stemming the buoy. Then stabbing it.

The webmaster had no idea ducks ran across the water before actually taking off. Or that they looked so funny when they did it. Photo taken from Badger on unit training,

It is a nice duck though. Very smart.

The wee dog didn't bat an eyelid jumping onto Badger from a barge in a rough sea. He was a bit unsure, though, of Davy Anderson, who jumped on board with him.

It's ok . (We're unsure of him too.)

Meanwhile, back in Victoria Dock...

Pat and David paint the saloon roof with nonslip paint.

and then it's time for a photoshoot.

We don't care how many peas you ate yesterday - keep bailing.

It's Marigot's turn to go now. She gets ready to leave the dock.

Marigot exits the dock gates and enters the Tay.

Mark got a new woolly.

That's the same duck. The one that runs on water.

Dundee Pilot vessel "Taybird" passes Marigot.

NOW we can see what it is that you are waving at us. -  Mr and Mrs Richmond - a long lens. It's a Paparazzi thing.

Marigot returning to her berth at Newport.

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