2019

NT2776 : MV Fingal at Leith

taken 6 years ago, near to Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland

MV Fingal at Leith
MV Fingal at Leith
Moored in Alexandra Dock, after the completion of its conversion to a floating hotel.
Dazzle Ship - MV Fingal

Every Woman is the fourth ‘Dazzle’ ship design developed by contemporary artists to commemorate the First World War and the centenary of the Battle of Jutland, and was co-commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival LinkExternal link and 14-18 NOW LinkExternal link. It is moored in the Prince of Wales Dock at Leith. It was ‘dazzled’ by Ciara Phillips, a Canadian artist living in Glasgow, and a Turner Prize 2014 nominee LinkExternal link

As well as drawing attention to the use of dazzling as a means of confusing the enemy, it draws attention to the part that women and artists played in the war. First appearing in 1917, it was hoped that the multi-coloured stripes and shapes could mask a ships' speed and direction. It was developed by Lt-Cmdr Norman Wilkinson, who led a small team of artists, model makers and art students, the majority of whom were women. More than 3500 ships were dazzled, but an official investigation found little evidence that the technique worked. Six illustrated panels describe the idea and process of 'dazzling', and other aspects of wartime Leith.

The ship is the ‘MV Fingal’, currently owned by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. It was built in Glasgow in 1963 to be a support ship to lighthouses and lightships, and operated out of Oban and Orkney. It is planned to be converted to a floating luxury hotel.

Update - January 2019: The conversion has been completed, and the hotel opens fully at the end of January, although it has been occupied by some guests since Christmas 2018. From the outside and reception area it looks very smart. LinkExternal link


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright M J Richardson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Leith Docks [115] · Floating Hotel [9] ·
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NT2776, 706 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
M J Richardson   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 21 January, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Monday, 21 January, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NT 2715 7686 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:58.7503N 3:10.1410W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NT 2719 7686
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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