HMS Archer, Aberdeen URNU's dedicated training vessel is based at the Eurolink Jetty, Commercial Quay, Aberdeen Harbour (for a map, click here).

The advantage of having a dedicated training vessel in the harbour is that it allows us to consolidate theoretical classroom training and apply what we've learned in practise during fun filled weekends at sea!

Training Weekends (or 'Sea Weekends') are more focused on training the students and consolidating what various skills and for this reason we have one of the Training Officers embarked to instruct and assist students in practical navigation which builds on what has been taught at drill nights in the classroom. The programme once at sea can vary widely, from simply navigation training, to man-overboard exercises in which the students have control of the ship and attempt to recover the 'man overboard', to exercises for the crew like engine breakdown and steering gear failure.

Training weekends also give students the opportunity to experience a taster of what life will be like on deployments - preparing meals for seventeen other people, being on watch for four hours and being off for four hours, working in close conditions and really starting to work together as a team.