Profile of Derek Miller - Head of Maintenance & Security

Role at Britannia:

As a former Royal Navy Dockyard trained shipwright and naval architect I am ultimately responsible for all maintenance work carried out on the Royal Yacht.  A key aspect of my job is prioritising and scheduling work for our dedicated maintenance team and reviewing and monitoring the security systems and personnel.

Why is maintenance so important onboard Britannia?

Britannia is owned by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and it is the role of the Trust to maintain and preserve Britannia in keeping with her former role and to display her to the public as an example of British maritime history.  Maintenance is very important in order to preserve the last Royal Yacht and to ensure she looks as good as she did when she was in service.  Preservation work is never ending, and there are always plenty of tasks to be done over the course of time. 

What do you enjoy about your job?

I have a great feeling of pride working on a vessel that is so famous throughout the world.  No two days are the same.   One moment I could be talking to visitors about the different shades of paint used to coat the Yacht and the next crawling around inside of the Yacht's hull carrying out an inspection!

What work is being carried out during the summer of 2007?

The team have recently finished working on the port waist, the area from the Wardroom entrance to the Royal Studies on the Upper Deck.  Areas of rust were removed and an undercoat was applied before a white or blue gloss.  We are now currently carrying out similar treatments at the foscle or front end of the Yacht and also at the quarter deck or back end of the Upper Deck.

It is also our intention to repaint the Yacht's hull over the summer.  We plan to start on the Starboard side where we will investigate paint colours and shades before moving round to the Port side.  This a very laborious and weather dependant job which will take us approximately three months to complete.