Over the weekend, the world's oldest civil training ship docked in Edinburgh as locals rushed out to catch a glimpse of the impressive spectacle.
Looking like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and built in 1935, the Georg Stage left on a trip to the capital from its home in Denmark and arrived in Leith on Saturday afternoon.
Embarking on their annual journey with a crew of more than 70 people, the 50-foot ship with three huge masts was a rare and exciting sight when it arrived.
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Whilst the vessel is still present in the capital, we went down to Leith for a special tour and chat with some of the crew members to get some insight into what life on such an old and impressive ship is like.
As soon as we arrived, the size and detail that went into building such a vessel was evident. Compared to various photos before it was witnessed in person, the ship looked much bigger in-person.
We arrived in Leith on a sunny Tuesday morning and there were still plenty people stopping to snap photos and catch a look at the ship before it departs from the capital.
According to the crew, the ship will leave Leith this afternoon, around 5pm, and head towards Ireland.
Our video journalist, Angus Hyde, spoke first of all, to Chief Mate Hells Barner Jespersen, on board the Georg Stage, who informed him that the crew on board the ship actually stay there for 20 weeks whilst on their training course for the merchant marines.
On board the ship, there is a whopping 217 ropes that help maintain the course of direction and are used during various training exercises.
On the top deck of the ship, Helle describes the way of steering as "the old way," using the traditional helm at the front centre of the vessel to navigate it through the sea. Crew members are taught how to steer, and also how to use the compass behind the helm to help them with the steering and remain on course.
The lifeboats that are dangling from either side of the ship are now actually used for training exercises and teaching the crew how to row correctly, which is done whilst the ship is in port.
We then got a look inside the captain's quarter, where Angus was invited down to see what lies below the main deck.
Helle adds that crew members are also taught how to speak like a sailor, using terms such as port and starboard, as opposed to left or right.
Below in the captain's quarter, the layout remains the same as it was 86 years ago, when the ship was first built.
Another interesting section of the ship is the hospital area as it only has space for two bunks for those who become sick, although there are no trained doctors on board, just crew members with basic medical knowledge, as well as a doctor over the radio that can advise in serious situations.
Helle also says that trainee sailors can only shower every third day as there is not enough water onboard for everyone to shower once a day. Down in the trainee's quarters, there is space with benches where they sleep and are also taught.
One of the ship's trainee's, Snorre Venn, from Norway, also spoke to Angus, explaining what it's like to train and live on the ship whilst out at sea.
Snorre said that although the ship is not very big, it's quite cosy and his home for five months whilst he and 60 other trainee's are put through their paces.
The trainee's onboard actually sleep in hammocks in different small sections below deck, with as many as 20 fitting in to one space at a time. Snorre also climbs in to a hammock to show us how close all the trainee's sleep to each other, with it being so close that the hammocks rub against one and other through the night.
The navigation room on the ship is also one of the most interesting areas onboard, with the GPS map of the ship's route around the world shown, as well as all the important buttons and alarms.
The ship's kitchen is also shown, which showcases where trainee's are taught to cook, as well as preparing and serving food for everyone on board. There are multiple traditional ovens that can be used, but the food they have on board is very much the same as they would have on land. Meat, fish and potatoes are the usual suspects on the menu, and trainee's are taught to cook at an advanced level.
