Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

The Ship

The Scotia under reconstruction at Troon

This picture shows the exploration ship SY Scotia, without masts or funnel, during her reconstruction in the dry dock of the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company at Troon in Ayrshire. This was prior to her departure on the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of under the command of Captain Thomas Robertson and the overall leadership of William S Bruce.

On the advice of the experienced polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, Bruce had acquired the Norwegian whaler Hekla. This was converted for its new purpose in accordance with the plans of the naval architect, George L Watson, who gave his services free.

Watson had formed a very poor opinion of the original vessel, but succeeded in making it into a polar exploration ship of the highest quality.