Governor of Gibraltar visits Hebridean Sky

By Mike Deegan, Head of Fleet Operations

October 2022

We were delighted to welcome the Governor of Gibraltar aboard MS Hebridean Sky when she visited the port recently.

 His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL, was welcomed on board by the Master, Captain Ulf-Peter Hansen-Lindström and myself and after greeting him at the gangway we showed him over the ship before he delivered a passionate talk about Gibraltar to our guests prior to Dinner.  He spoke of the history and the heritage but chiefly of the people, the commerce and the importance of Gibraltar in the World both strategically and commercially and noted the local system of Government ran well for the 35,000 inhabitants, almost all of whom were passionately committed to the link to the United Kingdom, he reported.  After his talk, His Excellency met many of the guests at a drinks reception before I hosted him for Dinner with guests in the Main Restaurant on board.  Interestingly, but not surprisingly perhaps, The Governor found a former colleague (from his time as 2nd Sea Lord) and an old shipmate from his time in the Royal Navy amongst the guest list!  It is indeed a small world! 

 We are grateful to our old friend, Rear Admiral John Lippiett, former Director of the Mary Rose Museum and who was Guest Speaker on board Hebridean Sky at the time, for making the necessary arrangements. 

 Noble Caledonia often punches above it’s weight as an operator of small ships and we were deeply honoured to host His Majesty’s representative in Gibraltar aboard our ship.  The Governor told me he had never visited a cruise vessel previously, even though cruise specifically and tourism generally are vital components of Gibraltar’s economy.  I told him now he had started with the best he had no need to visit ships of another operator!

Photo : (from left) Rear Admiral John Lippiett (Guest Speaker), Mike Deegan (Noble Caledonia Head of Fleet Operations), His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, Captain Ulf-Peter Hansen-Lindström (Master of Hebridean Sky)