The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17330, in the name of Kevin Stewart, on Aberdeen welcoming the tall ships races. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
I call Jackie Dunbar to open the debate on behalf of Kevin Stewart.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament welcomes the return of the Tall Ships Races to Aberdeen from 19 to 22 July 2025; recognises that the event, which will see over 50 tall ships and over 1,500 international crew arriving in the harbour in the Aberdeen Central constituency, sees the ships coming back to the Granite City for the first time in 28 years, and will be the largest fleet of the 2025 races; understands that there will be a plethora of entertainment for visitors and residents alike to partake in while the ships are berthed in Aberdeen, including public access to the ships themselves, parades, cultural events, open-air concerts, headlined by Deacon Blue, Kaiser Chiefs, Ministry of Sound Classical, Tide Lines and Callum Bowie, and much more; believes that this has the potential to be the biggest event in Aberdeen in a generation, with the opportunity to create a lasting legacy in the city, and hopes that it is a tremendous success that brings a lot of joy and excitement to all those who join in with the festivities.
12:48
As you can see, Presiding Officer, I am not Kevin Stewart. He has asked me to lead his debate and to pass on his apologies for not being here today, due to his illness. I am sure that the chamber will join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
The following are his words, and I am happy to use them, although I think that some of them will be a bit of a tongue twister.
It is with immense pride that I welcome the tall ships race to Aberdeen. For Aberdeen, the arrival of the tall ships is more than just a visit; it is a homecoming. The homecoming of the tall ships coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Aberdeen Line, which was founded by George Thompson in 1825. Aberdeen’s shipyards were the home of the Aberdeen clippers, the fastest sailing ships ever built.
The first Aberdeen clipper, and the first ship to sport the famous “Aberdeen bow”, was the Scottish Maid, which was designed and built in 1839. Her revolutionary bow was so extraordinary that the ship was built back to front, with the Aberdeen bow hidden under a fake normal bow until the day that she was launched. The new bow proved its worth, and the iconic design of the Aberdeen tea clipper was born.
Over the next 30 years, Aberdeen tea clippers reigned supreme as the fastest ships to sail the seas. Speed records fell with every new ship that was launched until the greatest of all the Aberdeen tea clippers, the Thermopylae, was launched in 1868 from Aberdeen’s Walter Hood & Co shipyard. Her reign as the fastest ship on the seas would not go unchallenged, however, and just a year later her great rival, the north-east-designed Cutty Sark, was launched.
That set the stage for the greatest tall ship race in history—the great tea clipper race of 1872. It was a race between Inverbervie design and Aberdonian workmanship. The two ships set off together from Shanghai on 18 June, and the Cutty Sark steadily built up a lead of 400 miles. However, like her namesake nightdress, the Cutty Sark cut a little too close to the wind, and she broke her rudder in a storm while passing between Java and Sumatra. Determined not to be defeated, the crew of the Cutty Sark cobbled together a new rudder from scrap iron and set off in pursuit of the Thermopylae. However, despite the efforts of the Cutty Sark’s crew, they could not pass the Thermopylae, which arrived back in London first and retained her crown as the fastest ship in the world.
The great battle of the Aberdeen tea clippers rightly stands as the greatest tall ship race in history, and it was in the spirit of that race that today’s tall ships races event began. Although today’s event is not a commercial venture for tea, it carries forward the same spirit of competition, adventure and the pursuit of excellence.
To those who are unfamiliar with it, I can say that the tall ships races is not just a spectacle but an international event, organised by Sail Training International, that is designed to promote youth development and international friendship through sail training. It brings together magnificent vessels from across the globe, crewed by young folk, many of whom are experiencing life at sea for the first time. That includes young folk from Aberdeen who serve as crew aboard the racing ships and learn seamanship, teamwork and resilience, while forging bonds that transcend borders and cultures. This year, one such young person is Kevin Stewart’s constituent Noah Tait, who will be competing aboard the Dutch schooner, the Gulden Leeuw, in the race across the North Sea from Aberdeen and to Kristiansand.
Several of the larger sailing ships also serve as naval training vessels, with cadets on board from as far afield as Peru and Oman taking part. Sadly, the perils of the sea remain today, and my thoughts are with the families of the two young navy cadets of the Mexican naval training ship the Cuauhtémoc who died when their ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge as she set sail across the Atlantic to join the tall ships races.
This year’s races will begin at Le Havre and have four stages, beginning at Dunkirk, Aberdeen, Kristiansand and Esbjerg. The tall ships are due to arrive in Aberdeen on 19 July. They will spend four days there, where there will be a packed schedule of events during the long weekend to celebrate the tall ships and Aberdeen’s own maritime heritage.
The Aberdeen sea cadets will be on hand to showcase the heritage of the Aberdeen clippers, but a wide array of other events is also planned. They include TechFest, which will focus on Aberdeen’s engineering heritage with hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities. North East Scotland College and the Scottish maritime academy will be in attendance to promote maritime careers as well as their popular trainee deckhand course and officer of the watch cadetship programme. There will also be daily quayside music concerts, with Scottish musical talent from Deacon Blue and Tide Lines. With those events and the tall ships themselves, the race will prove to be a true spectacle.
Beyond the spectacle, the tall ships races embody timeless values: the importance of teamwork, the discipline of seamanship and the thrill of adventure. The ships are living museums that preserve the skills and artistry of a bygone era, while simultaneously inspiring the next generation of seafarers and global citizens. They remind us, even in our digital age, of the enduring magic in the power of wind and sail, and the irreplaceable value of hands-on experience and shared endeavour.
As the tall ships prepare to grace our waters, I urge everyone to embrace this incredible opportunity and come down to Aberdeen harbour to witness those magnificent vessels up close, feel the spray of the sea and let the spirit of the Cutty Sark, the Thermopylae and the great tea clipper race transport them to a time of grand adventure.
Thank you, Ms Dunbar. We move to the open debate. I call Liam Kerr to be followed by Audrey Nicoll.
12:55
I was delighted that Kevin Stewart lodged a motion on welcoming the tall ships to Aberdeen. I thank Jackie Dunbar for stepping in. It was no surprise to me that Kevin did so, as, although he and I differ on some—perhaps many—political issues, what he and I share, along with the other north-east cross-party representatives who attended a briefing at the Aberdeen maritime museum in April and other north-east members who are here today, is a deep desire to do what is best for Aberdeen and the north-east.
The return to Aberdeen of the tall ships races between 19 and 22 July—only eight weeks from now—for the first time in 28 years is definitely a great thing for us in the north-east. As Jackie Dunbar said, what an opportunity we have here. Much credit needs to be given to the host partners—Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Inspired and Port of Aberdeen. We also need to acknowledge the support of VisitScotland and the funding of the United Kingdom Government, because we know that Aberdeen is a great place to live, work and visit.
So many attractions already exist there, such as the maritime museum, which I mentioned earlier, and the art gallery, where visitors can see the “Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction?” exhibition, which opened last weekend—note that it has extended hours during the tall ships races. There are the shows at the music hall in His Majesty’s Theatre. On that note, let people not forget that we had our own independent Belmont Cinema, which will rise again if viewers support it at www.belmontcinema.co.uk. The campaign to save the Aberdeen Arts Centre has also just launched, and viewers can help to support it in its time of need and save it by visiting www.aberdeenartscentre.com.
It is fair to say that people do not realise quite how good Aberdeen is and how much there is there. The 2025 tall ships races in Aberdeen from 19 July will be an amazing event in and of itself, but it will also act to showcase the best of Aberdeen and the north-east.
As we heard from Jackie Dunbar, almost 50 tall ships are coming. We are getting the Red Arrows, quayside concerts and a march. There will be 60 business and charity stalls in place at the north harbour and the north end of Union street, and there will be hundreds of opportunities for young people aged 15 to 25 to get on board through the Sail Training International sail trainee programme.
The projected 400,000 visitors will not only provide a welcome boost to our local economy; they will also showcase that Aberdeen is not merely a great energy city but a tourism hub for itself and the wider shire, with the attractions in the city. What a legacy that event could leave, which would be a fitting tribute to the 300 volunteers who have been recruited to support the event, 60 per cent of whom live in the city, around 60 per cent of whom are female and a quarter of whom are under 40.
The fact is that there is too much to tell about the tall ships races returning to Aberdeen from 19 to 22 July, but I say to people who are watching that they can find out all about being a sail trainee, volunteering, the concerts, the stalls, the ships themselves, the event programme and how they can get involved, simply by visiting www.tallshipsaberdeen.com. I cannot wait to be one of the 400,000 visitors.
12:59
I am very pleased that my colleague Kevin Stewart secured a debate that celebrates and highlights the return of the tall ships races to Aberdeen. As we have heard, the tall ships races are a wonderful opportunity for the city, the wider north-east and Scotland, and I believe that parliamentary recognition of them is fitting. I extend my thanks to Kevin Stewart for the debate—I wish him well—and I thank Jackie Dunbar for stepping in today.
As we have heard, in 57 days, the tall ships races will visit Aberdeen’s shores for the third time between 19 and 22 July. During that time, the Port of Aberdeen and a whole host of other businesses and organisations will welcome at least 50 tall ships that will be visiting from all over the world.
Like my colleague Jackie Dunbar, I extend my sympathies to the families of the two cadets who lost their lives earlier this week in the tragic incident involving a Mexican tall ship that was due to participate in the event.
As part of the tall ships races, 240 young people living in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire will be offered the life-changing experience of joining the crew of a tall ship that will sail from Dunkirk to Aberdeen or from Aberdeen to Kristiansand. I am sure that the rest of the chamber will join me in wishing good luck to the young cadets who will be embarking on their first voyage.
As we have heard, the tall ships races will bring a significant economic opportunity. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce anticipates that it will inject tens of millions of pounds into the city and region’s economy. To capitalise on that opportunity, local business and charities will participate in activities such as Charlie House’s “Curated on the Quayside” initiative, which will allow the north-east to further showcase local culture and produce in a wonderful open-air market event that will be held across the city, including in the area of the harbour.
In addition to the economic benefits, the tall ships races provide a platform to showcase Scottish and Doric culture. Local musicians, artwork, and vibrant street performances will be displayed throughout the city. Aberdeen’s history and maritime contributions will also be highlighted in free informative events. As we have heard, Aberdeen art gallery has a stunning range of tall ship-themed souvenirs that have been created by local creators and makers that reflects the maritime history and sheer spectacle of the tall ships. We have also heard that there will be a programme of open-air gigs, which will see our very own Deacon Blue, Kaiser Chiefs and Tide Lines entertain visitors.
It certainly goes without saying that this year’s tall ships races will greatly benefit Aberdeen city and the surrounding region. With that in mind, I reflect on the impact of the previous tall ships races in Aberdeen. As we have heard, the tall ships races first visited Aberdeen in 1991. Crowds of more than 300,000 flocked to the granite city to witness the great sailing ships and to enjoy a variety of performances. Aberdeen welcomed the tall ships races for a second time in 1997, coinciding with the bicentenary of the renowned Aberdeen Line, a shipping company known for its excellence and efficiency. That event proved to be even more popular, with more than 500,000 people attending. The races are a cherished memory for all those who attended, as well as for the city itself. As a result, they have left a truly lasting legacy.
In closing, I congratulate everyone involved in the organisation and running of the 2025 tall ships races in Aberdeen, including all the volunteers who will support the event. With their hard work, the tall ships races will remain a cherished part of Aberdeen’s legacy. I again thank Kevin Stewart for securing the debate and I invite anyone and everyone to visit the tall ships races in July.
13:03
I thank Kevin Stewart for lodging the debate and Jackie Dunbar for standing in and transporting us to a time of grand adventure. I am not sure that my nerves would have coped with the story of the tea clipper race had it been related in Kevin Stewart’s theatrical élan, so perhaps we have all been saved by Jackie Dunbar’s intervention.
For nearly 50 years, the tall ships races have traversed ports across these islands and all over Europe. The races even involved a transatlantic voyage in 1984, reaching as far as Quebec. This is the third year—and the first time this century—that Aberdeen has been involved. With around 50 tall ships and 1,500 crew members arriving in Aberdeen for four days in July, the event will bring a carnival atmosphere to the city, with concerts, parades and even a display from the Red Arrows. I am sure that it is set to be a fantastic time in the granite city. There is an opportunity to board the great ships and learn more about their long history—some of the ships are as old as 125 years.
It will be a huge boost for businesses in the city, with tens of thousands of spectators expected to attend. That will be welcome for many hospitality and retail businesses, in particular, given the challenges that those sectors have faced in recent years following the pandemic and the Scottish National Party Government’s failure to pass on rates relief from the UK Labour Government.
Events such as this, the Commonwealth games and the Tour de France grand départ, which I know the minister has been involved with, are all good for Scotland and the people of Scotland. They have the potential to showcase our country at its best and to give a much-needed boost to our economy. Liam Kerr laid out well some of the many attractions in Aberdeen of which visitors are likely to be able to afford themselves. There is an opportunity for great cultural exchange and dialogue around such events and to see some of the world’s great sportsmen and women at the top of their game.
It is vitally important that, when such events are organised, logistics are in place to minimise negative disruption for local residents and to maximise enjoyment for all visitors. The use of park and ride facilities for the event has been welcomed by my constituents. Those will be at four locations across the city to help to reduce congestion in the city centre, which will be welcome.
The ships are to be berthed at the port of Aberdeen, which is so central to the economy of the city and the North East Scotland region, which I have the pleasure of representing. Aberdeen accounts for around 43 per cent of vessel traffic in Scotland; it is Scotland’s busiest port. Since being elected in 2021, I have worked closely with colleagues at the Port of Aberdeen port authority and its chief executive, Bob Sanguinetti. As a trust port, it is run by a board for the benefit of stakeholders. With all the profits being reinvested to safeguard and improve the port, it is a civic benefit to the city and the wider community.
The port has a significant role in the offshore energy industry—although a significant proportion of the port’s revenue comes from oil and gas, which will be the case for decades to come—and it is working towards its goal of becoming the UK’s first net zero port by 2040. It is one of the fundamental components of the north-east, providing thousands of jobs and essential logistics to keep our region’s industries going. The recent £420 million expansion to the south harbour will be transformative for the port’s future, with the potential to increase its gross value added contribution by 60 per cent and the number of jobs that it supports by 45 per cent, which could take the number of jobs up to 17,500.
Although tall ships are not typical vessels for the port of Aberdeen, I know that it will welcome them and the further boost to Aberdeen’s economy that the spectacle will bring.
13:07
It is appropriate to start by joining colleagues in sending deepest condolences to the family and friends of, and others who knew, the two young crew members and cadets who lost their lives on the Mexican navy ship, the Cuauhtémoc, during the tragedy in New York this past Saturday. Although this debate is focused on the celebration to come in July in Aberdeen, we must acknowledge the loss for the tall ships and sailing community of two of their own. I noticed the statement last night from Sail Training International—the body that is behind tall ships races—which said that it wanted to acknowledge, with sadness, the fact that the Mexican navy will no longer be participating in the tall ships races.
I thank Kevin Stewart for lodging the motion and, in his absence through illness, I wish him the best for his recovery. I thank members who signed the motion and Jackie Dunbar for taking the helm and so eloquently laying out the importance of this event and talking about the heritage of Aberdeen.
As I have said many times before in the chamber, the Scottish Government places huge value on major events, which have a unique ability to bring communities together, offer lasting legacies for generations to come and provide considerable economic impact locally and nationally. We are committed to ensuring that the country capitalises on those benefits and that we continue to be the perfect stage for such events.
We have a really good reputation in the major events space, as Michael Marra just said, evidenced by our successful delivery of events such as the 2014 Ryder cup, the open golf championships and the 2023 Union Cycliste Internationale cycling world championships, and by our support for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth games, the 2027 Tour de France and the 2028 UEFA European football championships. We should not forget the island games in Orkney, which I will be attending the week before the tall ships races in Aberdeen.
I am pleased to share how the 2025 tall ships race in Aberdeen will continue that pipeline of major events in Scotland and reinforce our nation’s status as an outstanding major events destination. We are very proud to be working alongside our partners in Aberdeen City Council, the UK Government and the port authority, and other partners that have been mentioned.
We provided £158,000 through the EventScotland international events programme to support the event. The international events programme supports the delivery of Scotland’s national events strategy, “Scotland: The Perfect Stage”, by investing in major world-class events that raise Scotland’s profile and showcase Scotland’s key event and tourism assets. Those assets include our people, our cultural identity and heritage, our national environment and, of course, our built environment.
The tall ships races are a fitting example of an event that showcases all those things. It is an event that sits close to Scotland’s heart. We have hosted the tall ships event four times before; however, as the motion states, it has been 28 years since the event’s last return to the granite city—Aberdeen previously hosted it in 1991 and 1997. As part of Europe’s largest free family festival, the 2025 event will see a fleet of 50 sailing vessels visit Aberdeen, a sight that, no doubt, will be something to behold. It will have been worth that 28-year wait, and it truly has the potential to be the biggest event that Aberdeen will have held for a generation.
Fittingly, 2025 also marks the 200th anniversary of the Aberdeen Line, which built more than a hundred ships from the Walter Hood shipyard—the very place that the tall ships will be berthed in July. That is a good reminder of the city’s rich maritime heritage.
Beyond the tall ship races themselves, Aberdeen’s festival of the sea, which will extend either side of that event, will provide further opportunities for visitors and communities to enjoy and participate in the proud celebration of the region’s heritage and culture, as well as highlighting further points of interest across the whole city.
As others have said, the tall ships races will potentially play host to an incredible 400,000 people, and the event presents a significant tourism opportunity for Aberdeen and the wider region. Locals in the city and beyond will be excited about the races. There were many applications for the voluntary positions to help at the event: 300 people were selected from 1,400 who applied, and 60 per cent of them are from the city itself. We pay tribute to the many volunteers who help support such events in Aberdeen and throughout the country.
My final remarks revolve around what is happening in Aberdeen at the moment. It is an exciting event, as many people have said. People may know that I have strong personal connections to Aberdeen. I lived there for a while—when I was first elected to the Parliament, I moved to Aberdeen, and I have family connections to the city. I also support the local football team, which I wish the best for the cup final this weekend. I hope that, whoever wins, it is a successful cup final and that both teams and their sets of fans have an enjoyable occasion.
A lot of positive things are happening just now in the city. I pay tribute to the creativity, ingenuity and hard work of so many bodies in the city that make those things happen.
Will the minister give way?
I have time to do so—yes.
The minister was discussing what is happening this weekend, and it would be remiss of me if I did not mention that the Denis Law legacy trail will be opening this weekend. That is another great walkabout for when folk come to see our tall ships.
Jackie Dunbar’s point is well made. When I was in the city a couple of days ago, at the weekend, I noticed the murals of Denis Law—they are something to behold when you are driving on Great Northern Road.
The tall ships races are one of many positive developments for the city. I pay tribute to the organisations and partners that are involved in promoting economic development in the city. There are some amazing events that illustrate and exemplify the ambition of the city, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, the council and the various other initiatives that are promoting the city. Aberdeen is an exciting place with a huge amount of potential, and I am paying close attention to the exciting developments in the city.
Scottish ministers will be represented at the tall ships races. I wish all the participants the best of luck, and the city the best of luck in hosting this fantastic event. I congratulate all the sponsors and other partners. Let us look forward, as a country, to one of Scotland’s major events in the coming months.
That concludes the debate.
13:14 Meeting suspended.Previous
First Minister’s Question Time