When in 1786 the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses was founded it became obvious to require a ship or ships to carry out the duties around the rugged coast of Scotland, the Northern islands, the Hebrides and the Island of Man.
The first recorded vessel was the PHAROS, which in 1800 came in service.
The duties of the vessels included the maintenance of the navigation buoys and lighthouses, the refueling and storing of manning, offshore lighthouses.
One of these vessels was the FINGAL built-in 1964 on the yard of Blythswood Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., at Glasgow for the Commissioner of Northern Lighthouses at Leith.
She was the last vessel constructed in the yard.
Tonnage 1.342 gross, 419 net, 619 dwt., dim. 72.8 x 12.3 x 5.64m, a length between pp. 65.54m.
Powered by two 6 cyl. British Polar diesels, with a total output of 2.400 bhp., twin screws, with a maximum speed of 14 knots. Engine manufactured by British Polar Engines Ltd., Glasgow.
Crew 7 officers and 25 men, has accommodation for 12 passengers.
One 12 ton working crane to lift buoys from and in the water.
Fitted out with a helicopter deck later.
Based at Oban.
On the stamp of the Isle of Man is she depict underway off the northeast coast of the island, with on the background of the stamp, Maughold lighthouse.
She was a lighthouse tender many times host to HRH Princess Anne, who was the patron of the Northern Light Board, often performed duties on behalf of The Board, on occasions using the ship as a base when executing other Royal responsibilities on Scottish soil.
1994 Based at Stromness
2000 Sold to Tamahine Investments Ltd. of Hong Kong (Boyatt Ships Ltd., London), registered at London and renamed WINDSOR CASTLE.
2002 There were plans to convert her in an expedition yacht by the Devonport Yachts Ltd., but the project never materialized.
2006 Laid up at the River Fall, at Cornwall, since the ends of the 1990s.
She is well maintained and there are still plans to convert her in an expedition yacht
2007 As given by http://www.equasis.org owned by the same owner, under the British flag and registry. IMO No. 5419957.
2014 Sold to Royal Yacht Enterprises Ltd., Edinburg
August 2014 as given in many newspapers in the U.K. she will be converted for £1 million in a floating boutique hotel next to Royal Yacht BRITANNIA in Leith.
She will be opened in the spring of 2016, and can then accommodate guests in 25 bedrooms.
As given by the newspapers she will arrive in Leith in about two weeks’ time and will undergo an 18-month conversion.
After being converted to a luxury "boutique hotel" she will be berthed alongside Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at Leith.
2014 to be converted to luxury "boutique hotel" (25 cabins) in Leith
5/2016-2017 painted in "dazzle" colors as WW1 commemoration
1/2019 Opened as a luxury hotel in Alexandra Dock, Leith, a short distance from the BRITANNIA
Isle of Man 1993 2p sg 540, scott 532
Marine News 2001/224. Sea Breezes 1993/980. http://www.nlb.org.uk/historical/ships.htm