CHILDREN FROM A Buckie primary school had a first look at Moray’s new dredger this week – a reward for their efforts in coming up with a name for the vessel.
A group of pupils from Cluny Primary School came up with ‘Selkie’ as the name for the £2.5million investment by the local authority, a replacement for the Shearwater which was decommissioned by the local authority two years ago.
The Selkie has been built at the Buckie yard of Macduff Shipyards where the pupils were given their exclusive preview of the 90-foot 25-tonne ship.
During their tour the children signed their names on the dredger’s propeller blades – and their teacher, Shona Cowie, revealed that they had learned much about the vessel.
“They were delighted when the name they chose was selected,” she said, adding: “All the class had been studying Scottish mythical creatures, and the name Selkie seemed to be right for the new ship built in their town. We all think the ship’s awfa bonnie.”
The Selkie is yet to be introduced to the water but when it does will undergo a series of sea trials before being handed over the Moray Council on Friday, May 6 when a formal naming ceremony will be held in Buckie.
Pupils attending the tour were: Cerys Coull, Billy Summerfield, Ceira Cameron, Freya Skene, Alyssa Allen, Paige Mackie, Ryan Ritchie, Lauchlan Stewart, Charlie Moonie, Gordon Cuo, Autumn Taylor.