The Princess Royal has been to Ramsgate to visit Estuary Services Limited and name a Pilot Vessel at the Commercial Quay.
Princess Anne arrived by helicopter, landing at Jackey Bakers field and giving a wave to Dame Janet pupils as her convoy drove past the school.
The Princess Royal was greeted on arrival at Ramsgate RNLI by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain, who presented the High Sheriff of Kent, Dr Gillian Fargher, Chairman of Kent County Council, Bryan Sweetland, Chair of Thanet District Council, Debra Owen-Hughes, Chief Executive of Thanet District Council, Colin Carmichael, Mayor of Ramsgate, Cllr Pat Moore, East Thanet MP Polly Billington, and Managing Director of Estuary Services Ltd, Robert Brown.
The pilot vessel was officially named Estuary Elise during the service this afternoon.The vessel is the fifth built by Goodchild Marine in Great Yarmouth to become part of ESL’s fleet of six vessels.
Estuary Elise is an ORC171. It uses a modern, fuel-efficient hull form, providing both greater service resilience and comfort, whilst supporting ESL’s customers. The vessel design also includes additional accommodation and extra capacity for customers.
ESL Managing Director Robert Brown said:“We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness to Ramsgate today to name our new pilot boat, Estuary Elise. This is the latest addition to supplement our fleet and will provide greater resilience, an even better service to our port customers, and – through improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions – supports our ongoing commitment to improving our environmental performance.”
Goodchild Marine Services Limited General Manager, Stephen Pierce said: “Estuary Services Limited had the first ORC pilot boat built by us, and over the next 12 years those numbers have increased to over 30 in total for ports around the UK and Europe.
“This would not have been possible without the vision and commitment of ESL back then to be innovative in their approach to the next generation of pilot boats. It is with great pride that we see another ORC pilot boat enter service with ESL and our continued working relationship.”
PLA Chief Executive, Robin Mortimer added: “This British-built boat joins the ESL fleet as we approach one of the busiest times of year for the Port of London in the run-up to Christmas. Estuary Elise is designed specifically to meet the needs of the Port of London and ESL’s other customers, ensuring our pilots can reach our customers’ ships in the Thames Estuary and Medway in all weathers.
“The whole ESL team, our PLA pilots and colleagues from other ports, join me in thanking HRH The Princess Royal for naming the Estuary Elise today and for her ongoing support and commitment to the UK’s maritime sector.”
Estuary Services Limited is a subsidiary company owned by the Port of London Authority to provide a boarding and landing service. The company employs 43 people and has six fast pilot boats based at Ramsgate and Sheerness.
Following the naming the Princess Royal visited the Royal Temple Yacht Club where Commodore, Karen Cox, and her Vice Commodore, Judy Pearson-Parish, were introduced to The Princess Royal by Robert Brown before proceeding to the dining room for a reception.
At the reception, five volunteers from Ramsgate RNLI had the honour of being presented to Her Royal Highness, including volunteer crew and organiser of the Ramsgate RNLI Junior Fishing Competition, Jason Parrott, volunteer crew and the youngest female RNLI coxswain, Becky Cannon, volunteer crewmembers Jodie Winch and Maz Critchley, and volunteer shop manager Margaret Wright.
Also present were coxswain Ian Cannon and his brother, deputy coxswain Paul Cannon who took great pride in introducing their crew to The Princess Royal.
The Princess Royal previously visited Ramsgate in 2021 when she met students and staff at the Royal Harbour Academy.
