NLV Pole Star is the fifth Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) tender to carry this historic name, continuing a proud tradition stretching back more than 130 years.
Based at the NLB Oban Depot, she works alongside NLV Pharos, which joined the fleet in 2007. Together, the vessels undertake essential operational duties including buoy work, the delivery of stores and supplies to lighthouses, and the inspection of aids to navigation.
Like Pharos, the new Pole Star is equipped with dynamic positioning, allowing her to maintain precise station-keeping during complex offshore operations.
The previous Pole Star was built in 2000 by Ferguson Shipbuilders on the River Clyde. She replaced the former lighthouse tender NLV Fingal, and in recognition of this heritage, carried a workboat named Fingal.
This NLB video shows buoy maintenance work being carried out aboard Pole Star IV.
After 25 years of service, Pole Star IV was retired on 21 May 2025 and later sold, renamed Kommandor Claire, and released her working name for the new vessel.
The new state-of-the-art ship was launched on 14 January 2025 at Astilleros Gondán in Castropol, Spain.
Following an extensive fitting-out period, she departed the shipyard in November 2025 for sea trials before sailing to her new home port in Oban.
With a draught of 3.25 metres, the new vessel arrived in Oban on a clear, sunny Christmas morning, escorted by the Oban Lifeboat—a memorable and fitting welcome.
A new workboat, Robert Stevenson, was also launched around the same time at Alicat Workboats in Great Yarmouth.
Pole Star can be tracked on the Marine Traffic app, IMO: 9993614.
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