Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Cunard liner QUEEN ELIZABETH undocks from Firth of Clyde Dry Dock, Greenock, Scotland

Image contributed by Robert McKie  (Port Glasgow)

Wednesday 9^th March 1966  

 The Cunard liner QUEEN ELIZABETH undocked from the Firth of Clyde Dry Dock at Greenock, having arrived last December, and now completing the main part of a refit costing £1.25million.  The work was being done by John Brown & Company (Clydebank) Ltd., the shipyard who had built the ship 28 years previously.

   With the ship’s Master, Captain Geoffrey T. Marr, Commodore of the Cunard Line, the Clyde Pilot Captain George Howison of Gourock, a choice Pilot of Anchor Line and Cunard Line, took charge of the manoeuvre as 10 tugs assisted the vessel from the Dock to the anchorage at Tail-of-the-Bank.   Pilot Howison had previous experience of handling the liner as he had piloted her into the Dry Dock when she arrived at Greenock.

   As the 1,030 feet long QUEEN ELIZABETH backed out from the Dock in heavy rain she was caught by the strong Force 5 Westerly wind, and, despite strenuous efforts by the attendant tugs, her side gently touched the entrance knuckle of the Dock and caused some paint to be scraped from the liner’s side.

   The ship had been in Dock for about 3 months and, on leaving, a solitary Scottish Piper played tunes on his bagpipes.

   A few days ago a special railway train from Southampton brought nearly 220 crewmen to join the vessel and more will arrive this week and the last will join the ship next week, making a total of about 1,200.

   After leaving the Dock QUEEN ELIZABETH was towed from the Great Harbour and past Custom House Quay, which was crammed with spectators, to anchor at Tail-of-the-Bank, the total operation taking about one-and-a-half hours.

   Crowds of people filled Greenock Esplanade to view the liner as she went past.

   The ship is scheduled to leave the anchorage for Southampton at 2pm (1400) on Saturday and on-board will have around 400 workmen, mostly joiners, electricians and plumbers who will complete the refit.   She is expected to arrive in Southampton at 0400 on Monday.