royal yacht britannia aden evacuation

The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA evacuating personnel off Little Aden, January 1986

(MP442). Oil on board signed Richard Cosby and dated 2016.

12 copies worldwide

14 x 20 ins (35.5 x 50 cms) approx

on card:£100; on canvas £125

Purchase or enquire about this print

On 14 January 1986, Her Majesty’s Yacht BRITANNIA, under the command of Rear Admiral John Garnier CBE, was en route to New Zealand for Royal Duty with HM The Queen. As the Royal Yacht approached the Red Sea,she received distress signals about intense fighting between Government forces and rival Marxist factions in the former British Colony of Aden, now Yemen. The situation threatened the safety of foreigners, HM The Queen readily gave Her permission and the Royal Yacht was dispatched for an urgent evacuation of British and Commonwealth nationals.

Arriving off Aden at first light, BRITANNIA faced a chaotic scene with fierce fighting in the port area. On 17 January, BRITANNIA was joined by the destroyer HMS NEWCASTLE, frigate HMS JUPITER, fleet tanker RFA BRAMBLELEAF, and surveying ship HMS HECLA, along with MV DIAMOND PRINCESS from Cunard. Despite the restriction preventing warships from entering territorial waters, BRITANNIA came to anchor near Abyan Beach to facilitate the evacuation.

With white ensigns flying prominently, the Royal Yacht began her task, working alongside Soviet ships. The rescue effort involved the use of five of the Yacht's six boats, despite challenging conditions and heavy surf. By midnight, BRITANNIA had evacuated 152 individuals of 26 different nationalities. The survivors found temporary respite in the Royal Dining Room and Drawing Room.

The following day, BRITANNIA continued the evacuation but had to halt due to rebel forces firing on government positions near the beach. With the situation becoming increasingly perilous, the Yacht transferred French nationals to the French ship JULES VERNE and proceeded to Djibouti, where the remaining evacuees were disembarked. In subsequent days, evacuations continued under harsh conditions, with additional rescues by HMS NEWCASTLE and other ships.

Before resuming her voyage to New Zealand, BRITANNIA had successfully rescued 1,082 individuals, contributing significantly to the total of 1,379 saved by British ships. This poignant episode is captured in this seascape painting: its an idea piece of  wall art, ideal for nautical decor and marine art enthusiasts.

Our art prints online offer a unique opportunity to own a piece of naval artwork that celebrates the skill and dedication of the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during this historic operation. For those interested in buying original art online, explore our selection of art prints and affordable original art at www.maritimeprints.com  and www.maritimeoriginals.com.

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HMS JUPITER AND ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA - EVACUATION FROM ADEN 1986 [Allocated Title]

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• Title: HMS JUPITER AND ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA - EVACUATION FROM ADEN 1986 [Allocated Title]
• Film Number: ADM 5198
• Other titles: ROYAL NAVY - OLD ADMIRALTY BUILDING FILM AND VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
• Description:
• [fieldLabel]:
• Alternative Title: ROYAL NAVY - OLD ADMIRALTY BUILDING FILM AND VIDEO COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
• Colour: B&W
• Object_Number: ADM 5198
• Sound: Silent
• Access Conditions:
• Featured Period:
• Production Date: 1986
• Production Country: GB
• Production Details:
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• Physical Characteristics:
• Technical Details: Format: U-matic
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Marine Author & Photographer

The Official History of HM Yacht Britannia was written with the unprecedented support of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. This book presents the first comprehensive account of the Royal Yacht from her origins in the brief reign of King Edward VIII in 1936 to her preservation in Leith. Drawing on official records and an extensive series of interviews, the author provides a unique insight into life in one of the UK’s most famous ships and the first four decades of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

As part of his research, Richard interviewed a representative selection of those involved in Britannia’s rich heritage from members of the Royal Family through to junior Royal Yachtsmen, as well as, those involved in her construction and preservation. Richard also interviewed a number of former Government Ministers, former members of the Royal Household, business leaders and all of her surviving Commanding Officers. In addition to directly contributing to the book, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT, graciously agreed to write the foreword in which he paid tribute to the Yacht’s remarkable achievements and the people who made them possible.

The lowering of the White Ensign onboard HM Yacht Britannia in Portsmouth Dockyard on 11th December 1997 signalled the end of an unbroken succession of Royal Yachts dating back to the reign of King Charles II. As the latest in this long line of Royal Yachts the commissioning of Britannia in 1954 marked a significant step change from her predecessors. For the first time a British Sovereign had a Royal Yacht that was genuinely capable of sailing around the world. This capability was used to good effect with Britannia supporting the work of members of the Royal Family in locations as diverse as the Antarctic, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Africa, Russia and the Americas. In home waters Britannia became the focus of major State and Naval occasions including Fleet Reviews and The Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. In addition to these official duties, Britannia’s annual programme usually incorporated a visit to Cowes Week and a Western Isles cruise.

Although Britannia played an important role in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the project that resulted in her construction was initiated in 1936. However, the combination of King Edward VIII’s abdication, followed by the outbreak of WWII and the austerity of the early post war years delayed the placing of an order for her construction until 4 February 1952. Sadly, this event was quickly overshadowed by King George VI’s death, thereby leading to the personal involvement of The Queen and Prince Philip in the creation of what was to become one of their homes. This represented a unique opportunity for the Royal couple because their other residences had all been built by previous Monarchs.

The Admiralty appointed Patrick McBride to design the Royal Apartments. He had designed the interiors of the Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth . His initial drawings followed their grand style and did not meet with the Royal couple’s approval, so Prince Philip invited Sir Hugh Casson to inject some fresh ideas. This led to a more modest interior with the feel of a country house rather than a grand palace at sea which gave visitors the impression that they were coming to the Royal couple’s home rather than an official residence.

During nearly 44 years of active service Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles conducting 696 Royal visits overseas and 272 in home waters. Britannia’s sweeping lines and immaculate appearance combined to produce a simple yet effective formula that never failed to generate an air of glamour and excitement among the people she visited. On these occasions Britannia projected the very best of Britain and enhanced the prestige of the nation abroad. Those who were privileged to see round her Engine and Boiler Rooms could hardly believe that these mundane places could sparkle and gleam with quite such brilliance. However, none of this would have been possible without Britannia’s dedicated officers and ratings of the Royal Yacht Service. Their attention to detail and sheer hard work helped to establish Britannia’s reputation for smartness and efficient seamanship.

Britannia’s original secondary role as a casualty evacuation ship was put to the test in January 1986, while on passage to New Zealand and Australia for The Queen’s visits. The Yacht was diverted to Aden to assist in the evacuation of British nationals who had been trapped by the fighting in South Yemen’s erupting civil war. Britannia’s large open spaces in the Royal Apartments, coupled with the high number of boats that she carried and civilian appearence, made her ideally suited for this mission. During Operation Balsac a total of 1,068 men, women and children of 55 different nationalities were taken to safety by Britannia . On completion of the evacuation, the Yacht resumed her voyage to New Zealand and was only one day late when she berthed in Auckland on 23 February! In later years, Britannia was used with increasing success, in-between her Royal duties, to promote British industry abroad through the hosting of sea days.

Britannia’s replacement and ultimate fate became a controversial issue during the 1997 General Election due to the failure of John Major’s Government to consult with the opposition before announcing its decision to build a new Royal Yacht on 22 January 1997. Having opposed this decision during the General Election, the recently elected Labour Government announced in October 1997 that Britannia would be decommissioned without replacement.

However, Britannia’s ultimate fate remained unresolved until April 1998 when the Government announced that she would be preserved in Leith. Within a month, Britannia had arrived in the Scottish port for conversion into a museum ship prior to being opened to the public on 19 October 1998.

In September 2001, Britannia was towed across the basin in Leith to her permanent moorings at the recently completed £120 million Ocean Terminal. The move enabled The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust to open up more areas. Early research showed that visitors wanted to see more of Britannia especially where the Yachtsmen had lived. Thus, the forward part of the main deck was opened to enable people to visit the Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officer’s messes, the Marine Barracks, the Junior Rates mess area, the Sick Bay, the Laundry, the Post Office and the NAAFI.

These changes, coupled with further developments, such as the opening of the Royal Deck Tea Room and the Trust’s acquisition of the former racing Royal Yacht Bloodhound , have helped establish Britannia as one of Scotland’s most important tourist attractions – a fact underlined by the Scottish Tourist Board’s award of its prestigious 5 star rating.

There is no doubt that the nation lost a tremendous diplomatic and business asset when Britannia paid off without replacement, although her preservation in Leith serves as a lasting memorial to the proud traditions of the Royal Yacht Service.

The two editions of this Official History were published in 2003 to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the launch of HM Yacht Britannia . These books were illustrated with over 250 photographs and artworks, many of which were published for the first time.

Product Details

Title: The Royal Yacht Britannia – The Official History

Foreword by: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT

Edition: 1st

Publisher: Conway Maritime Press

Format: Hard Back

Publication Date: May 2003

ISBN 0-85177-937-9

Number of Pages: 310

Number of Images:

Remarks : This edition has been out of print since 2009

Edition: Signed Limited Edition

ISBN 0-85177-965-4

Number of Published Pages: 310

The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA evacuating personnel off Little Aden, January 1986

. Oil on board signed Richard Cosby and dated 2016.

14 x 20 ins (35.5 x 50 cms) approx

Price on application

This original has been sold and is no longer available.

Prints of this may be available on: Maritime Prints .

On 14 January 1986 Her Majesty’s Yacht BRITANNIA, wearing the flag of the Flag Officer Royal Yachts (FORY), Rear Admiral John Garnier CBE LVO, was on passage to New Zealand for Royal Duty with HM The Queen.  HMY, approaching the southern end of the Red Sea, was signalled that fighting between the Government and rival Marxist factions had broken out in the former British Colony of Aden, now the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Yemen.  The intensity of fighting now threatened the safety of foreigners in the country and with the full agreement of Her Majesty, BRITANNIA proceeded to the Aden area and prepared to evacuate British and Commonwealth nationals.  

The Royal Yacht arrived off Aden at first light the next morning to find a very confused situation with fierce fighting within the port of Aden itself and in the close vicinity. In the early hours of 17 January FORY was joined by the destroyer HMS NEWCASTLE (Captain P J Erskine RN), the frigate HMS JUPITER (Commander R A Y Bridges RN), the fleet tanker RFA BRAMBLELEAF (Captain O G Lynch RFA) and  the surveying ship HMS HECLA (Commander C F Heron-Watson RN) from East Africa. MV DIAMOND PRINCESS (Captain C Burtinshaw MN) joined soon afterwards on loan from Cunard. 

A frustrating constraint was a prohibition from ashore on warships and RFAs entering territorial waters (12 miles) to avoid any chance of provoking the battling elements around Aden. During the afternoon of 17 January, however, it became clear that an initial evacuation should be possible from Abyan Beach, near Khormaksar, north of Aden. With white ensigns flying conspicuously to emphasise her nationality, BRITANNIA anchored as close as possible off the beach and was quickly involved in the rescue effort with Soviet ships. Using 5 of her 6 boats (the Royal Barge remained at the davit head) the Yacht started lifting people from the open beach but with heavy surf making boat embarkation precarious it became obvious that in the very difficult conditions ashore it would not be possible or humane to attempt to evacuate selectively.  The 152 eventually embarked in BRITANNIA by midnight were of 26 different nationalities, and once fed they settled down with relief in the Royal Dining room and Drawing room for passage to Djibouti. 

At first light on 18 January and now alone off the beach, the Royal Yacht started the evacuation again, but this had to be suspended after 3 hours when rebel forces with tanks appeared on the beach and opened fire at Government positions over the embarkation point. Subsequently, shrapnel or shell splashes were observed falling between HMY and the shore. With little prospect of a further safe evacuation that day and after transferring 81 French nationals and a dog to the French ship JULES VERNE, HMY proceeded to Djibouti to disembark the remaining 350 evacuees: the following day NEWCASTLE transferred a lamp post to BRITANNIA who passed it on for the convenience of JULES VERNE’s dog!  Meanwhile JUPITER's boats marked out an embarkation area on a featureless coast near Zinjibar (about 40 miles NE of Aden) which allowed the Royal Yacht, arriving after dark, to recover 209 refugees by boat for transfer to JUPITER for fast passage to Djibouti.  

From 21 January evacuations by all ships were underway. In bad weather NEWCASTLE’s helicopter made 52 flights collecting 248 refugees from DIAMOND PRINCESS off Mukalla for transfer to Djibouti; and HYDRA rescued 49 people from Nishtun. Finally, off Little Aden and where the oil refinery had been burning hard (the scene of this painting), boats from HMY picked up a further 442 people from jetties for passage in the Royal Apartments to Djibouti.  Before she resumed her voyage to New Zealand on 24 January BRITANNIA had rescued 1,082 people of the overall total of 1,379 of 55 nationalities saved by the British ships

It was announced on 10 June 1986 in the London Gazette that Lieutenant Easson (Boatswain) had been awarded The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in recognition of his hazardous work as HMY’s Beach Master during the Aden evacuation

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The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and explore this floating Royal residence with a fascinating audio tour of five decks (available in over 30 languages).

Tripadvisor's Best UK Visitor Attraction (AGAIN) 2023-2024 and Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award winner 

Please note The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works outwith our control. 

Visit this award-winning attraction, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre at Ocean Terminal.  The Royal Yacht Britannia played host to some of the world’s most famous people, from Nelson Mendela to Winston Churchill, but above all was home for the British Royal Family for over 40 years. Now you can discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences.

You'll receive a truly warm welcome at Britannia's Visitor Centre before you board this famous ship where you will discover the history of Royal Yachts and view displays and historical photographs of Britannia's fascinating past before boarding Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace.

What will you see?

• Tour Britannia’s five decks
• Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
• Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
• See Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room- the Sun Lounge
• Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
• Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
• Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
• Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in the Royal Deck Tearoom and admire the stunning waterfront views.

The tour is available in:

• Audio handset tour, available in over 30 languages
• Children’s audio tour
• Audio tour for those with sight loss
• ASL and BSL tablet
• Braille script ​​​​​​ ​​​​​

Complete the Britannia experience with a visit to the  Gift Shop in Ocean Terminal, where you’ll find exclusive Britannia souvenirs, china, toys, gifts and nautical items.

Berthed just moments away, Britannia's sister ship, floating hotel Fingal, offers 22 luxurious cabins inspired by the former Northern Lighthouse Board tender's rich maritime heritage. For further information, visit Fingal's website .

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

-  All weather experience -  Highly accessible for wheelchair users, single buggies and those with limited mobility. Read our accessibility statement here . -  Free Annual Pass for 12 months admission included -  The entrance to Britannia is temporarily on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

How to get here?

By tram: Take the tram to stop 'Ocean Terminal' (Newhaven direction).

By bus:  Regal Tour Bus and Lothian Buses 10, 16, 34 and 35 run from the city centre towards Ocean Terminal. Regal Tour buses depart regularly from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in the centre of Edinburgh. The Majestic Tour is operated by Edinburgh Bus Tours .

By train:  Arrive in the city centre at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, just 2 miles from Britannia. 

By car: Follow signs to Edinburgh and Leith or North Edinburgh. Then follow brown tourist signs for Britannia. Free car parking at Ocean Terminal (level C is nearest). For satnav our postcode is EH6 6JJ. Go inside the shopping centre for Britannia’s entrance and the start of the tour. By plane: Britannia is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh Airport.

For further information on finding Britannia, please see here .  

OPENING TIMES

The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works out with our control.

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices. EVENING EVENTS Exclusive dinners and receptions can be hosted on board. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 and see how we can create your event of a lifetime, or visit the events section of our website .

PRIVATE TOURS A private tour on board The Royal Yacht Britannia is an exclusive experience, giving you access to Britannia’s five decks, and a unique insight into the history of the Royal Yacht and how the Royal Family and crew lived and worked on board. Both Morning and Evening tours are available. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 or for more information visit click here . PRESERVING BRITANNIA Britannia is cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust , a self-funding charity registered in Scotland (SC028070). By visiting Britannia you will be helping us to preserve this important piece of history for future generations.

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk See our reviews on Tripadvisor Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram

View our videos on YouTub

Transport and Parking

• On Public Transport Route
• Public Parking Nearby

Accessibility

• Hearing Loop
• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Lift or stairlift
• Large print, braille or audio
• Level Access
• Wheelchair access throughout
• Accessible toilets
• Wheelchairs or mobility aids provided
• Suitable for visitors with limited mobility

Dietary Options

• Gluten Free

Typical Prices

• Baby Changing Facilities
• Public Toilet Facilities
• Lunch Available
• Licensed Bar
• Cafe or Restaurant

Payment Methods

• American Express
• Diners Card
• Credit Card
• Coastal Location
• Sea/Loch View

Awards & Schemes

Related items of interest

• Sailing on Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound

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What's Nearby

Accommodation, attractions, food & drink, terms and conditions.

• Royal Deck Tearoom
• Group Visit
• Accessibility
• Annual Pass
• Our Green Tourism
• Weekly Snaps
• Things to do in Edinburgh
• What's On
• Private Events
• Private Dining
• Drinks Reception
• Private Tours
• Burns Supper
• Meet The Team
• Historical Timeline
• Explore Britannia
• Royal Residence
• Life Below Decks

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works beyond our control

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Plan your visit to Scotland's Best Visitor Attraction!

How to get to Britannia

Bus Britannia is easily accessible from the city centre via the hop-on, hop off Majestic Tour Bus , or by Lothian bus numbers 11, 22 and 35, which all depart regularly. Local buses have contactless for an adult single fare, but are unable to give change for other ticket types therefore you should ensure that you have the correct amount. 

Car Car parking is free within Ocean Terminal Car Park. Level E of the Blue Car Park (2 nd floor of the Shopping Centre) is closest to Britannia however, you can park on any level with stairs and lifts to take you up to our Visitor Centre and the start of your tour. Sat Nav postcode EH6 6JJ.

Opening Times

Britannia is open 9.30am - 4.30pm (April – October) and 10am – 3.30pm (November – March).  The Royal Yacht is closed on 1 January and 25 December.

At last admission (3.30pm/4.30pm respectively) you still have 2 hours to complete the tour with an average audio guided tour lasting 1.5 hours. If you wish to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room, we advise starting your tour half an hour before last admission (3pm/4pm) as this will allow you plenty of time to relax with a cup of loose-leaf tea and a freshly baked scone!

Tickets and Queues

We never run out of tickets! If you like to be organised, you can buy your tickets in advance from our website. We will e-mail an admission barcode allowing you to bypass our ticket desk, straight into the exhibition. Our tickets are the same price online as our walk-in rates. Any discount vouchers must be redeemed at the ticket desk.

Royal Deck Tea Room

Tables are unreserved allowing visitors to head up to the Royal Deck Tea Room at any time during their tour. All the soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones are made on board in the Royal Galley.

All the elements of an Afternoon Tea (cakes, scones and sandwiches) are served in the Tea Room however, they are served full sized and are plated as individual elements (sandwiches, slices of cake etc) from our menu . 

Should you wish to pre-book an Afternoon Tea, served on a stand, Britannia's luxury floating hotel, Fingal , is a short 5 minute walk away. A stunning Afternoon Tea  of perfectly formed savoury and sweet delicacies  is served in The Lighthouse Bar aboard this former Northern Lighthouse Board ship. To book call +44 (0)131 357 5000.

Visiting Britannia

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK ATTRACTION 2023 - 2024

The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 9 & 10 October for planned building works beyond our control.

Click on the Visit page  for more information before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK LUXURY HOTEL TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK SMALL & BOUTIQUE HOTEL AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

Learn more: fingal.co.uk