Tribute to 1950s John Brown Shipyard workers as Royal Yacht Britannia reopens

The Chief Executive of the Royal Yacht Britannia has paid tribute to the workers at John Brown's Shipyard who built the yacht, as the ship reopens to the public this week, following repairs. Bob Downie said: 'It's great to have Britannia back at her permanent berth and ready to open to the public again after undertaking an enormous amount of work whilst we were closed to the public. The good news is that our insurance surveyors have given Britannia's hull a very clean bill of health and it should be another twenty years before having to go back into dry dock.

 

'This is a great testament to the work that was undertaken when Britannia first arrived in Leith in May 1998 and to the original builders at John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank. We have also taken the opportunity to repaint the masts and funnel, as well as many other jobs on the visitor route that could only be done whilst closed to the public.'

 

Earlier this year, the yacht was moved from her Edinburgh berth for the first time in more than ten years. More than 2,500 litres of paint were used in her refurbishment.
 

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