A floating hotel boat is set to be berthed next to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh.

Around £1m will be spent to transform the ship and convert it into a 25-bedroom luxury "boatique" hotel, which will eventually be berthed permanently in the port of Leith.

Launched in August 1963, the MV Windsor Castle was the last ship built by the Blythswood Shipbuilding Company in Glasgow. She was previously the Northern Lighthouse Board's (NLB) tender Fingal.


She was Leith registered but spent most of her NLB service working out of Oban for 30 years, followed by her last six years, based in Stromness, Orkney.

At 239 feet long, she is almost two-thirds of the size of Britannia.

It is understood the ship is due to arrive in Leith during the week of 25 August and will then undergo an 18-month conversion. A scheduled opening date has been given as Spring 2016.

Bob Downie, Britannia's Chief Executive, said: "After many years of searching for the right ship, we are delighted that we have been able to acquire this iconic vessel and look forward to opening Scotland's first boatique hotel. As a youngster growing up in Oban I have very fond memories of seeing the Fingal and I am delighted that the long-term future of another much loved classic vessel has been secured."

(JP/IT)