Latest Events

This page shows the 100 latest events.

What/When	Ship
News Event Tuesday, September 16, 2025 @ 1230 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	HEINZ G (2019 > General cargo ship IMO 9536521 : 88.6m overall of Gerdes Bereederungs Und Verwaltungs Gmbh - Haren Ems, Germany)	Own Page
HEINZ G passing the Renfrew - Yoker Bridge, River Clyde (Scotland, UK) and outbound for Sweden
Ship's location Passing the Renfrew - Yoker Bridge, River Clyde (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry St John's (Antigua and Barbuda) Arrived from Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 2,545 Sailing for Norrkoping (Eastern Sweden) and expected to arrive at 0800 on 23 September Deadweght Tonnage 3,798 Outward cargo Refuse --- derived fuel
Contributed by Robert McManus
News Event Tuesday, April 29, 2025 @ 1046	ALBA EXPLORER (2006 > Sloop 21.63m overall of Ocean Youth Trust Scotland)	Own Page
ALBA EXPLORER passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Sea Ships agent Ocean Youth Trust
News Event Tuesday, April 29, 2025 @ 1025	SVITZER WARDEN (2007- Tug 24m long of Svitzer Towage)	Own Page
SVITZER WARDEN passes Custom House Quay, Greenock to wait for inbound tanker STEN HIDRA
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Rochester (England, UK) Arrived from Inchgreen Wall, Great Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 207 Sailing for To wait off Greenock Ocean Terminal to meet incoming tanker STEN HIDRA on passage for Clydebank Deadweght Tonnage 150 Ships agent Svitzer Towage, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	MOONLIGHT (1952- 1966 steam engined general cargo Clyde puffer lighter 88 feet long of Ross & Marshall, Glasgow : 1970 scrapped at Troon)	Own Page
Puffer MOONLIGHT at Inverness loading poles (= wooden poles) for Scarinish, Isle of Tiree
Ship's location Inverness (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Left Aberdeen 13th, then on 14th sheltered and windbound in Peterhead, arrived Inverness pm on 15th Gross Tonnage 164 Arrived in berth Inverness (Scotland, UK) at pm on 15th May Deadweght Tonnage 188 Sailing for Scarinish, Isle of Tiree (Western Isles of Scotland, UK) .... where she arrived on 19 May Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Outward cargo Wooden poles for account of J Walker Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	SEALIGHT (1930-1963 Steam engined general cargo Clyde puffer lighter 86 feet long of Light Shipping Co. / Ross & Marshall Ltd : 1964 scrapped at Troon))	Own Page
SEALIGHT discharged a ship's boiler in Glasgow then bunkered with coal then left for Loch Fyne
Ship's location Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Victoria Harbour, Greenock Gross Tonnage 154 Arrived in berth Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Furnace in Loch Fyne to load 160 tons of crushed granite for account of William Sim Ltd., Glasgow Cargo carried on arrival Ship's Boiler : for account of J. G. Kincaid Ltd. Vessel bunkered Bunkered coal in Queen's Dock before leaving Glasgow Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	WARLIGHT (1919-1964 Steam engined general cargo Crinan Canal size Clyde puffer 86 feet long of Light Shipping / Ross & Marshall, Greenock)	Own Page
Clyde Puffer WARLIGHT discharging her cargo of coal at Portree (Isle of Skye, Scotland)
Ship's location Portree (Isle of Skye or simply Skye, is northernmost of major islands in Scottish Inner Hebrides) Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) having left there on 13 May Net Tonnage 60 Arrived in berth Portree around 18:00 on 15 May Gross Tonnage 135 Cargo carried on arrival Coal 136 tons 19 hundredweights for account of N Beaton Ltd. Vessel bunkered 7 tons 9 hundredweights of coal before leaving Troon Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	RAYLIGHT (1938-1958 Steam engined Clyde puffer lighter 66 feet long of Light Shipping Company / Ross & Marshall, Greenock : 1958 scrapped at Smith & Houston Shipbreakers, Port Glasgow)	Own Page
RAYLIGHT was having boiler cleaning and repairs at Ross & Marshall repair yard at Greenock
Ship's location Ross & Marshall's repair yard at Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Applecross (Sparsely populated, extremely isolated settlement in Wester Ross, Scottish Highlands) Net Tonnage 38 Arrived in berth Ross & Marshall's repair yard at Greenock Reg Tonnage 73 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Gross Tonnage 96 Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
You may like to know of RAYLIGHT's excursion before her coming to the repair yard. On 3rd May the Puffer RAYLIGHT was at Ayr (Firth of Clyde) and loaded 113 tons 11 hundredweights of coal for R. Cameron at Applecross.     Also loaded 10 tons 3 hundredweights of coal for her bunkers (remember she was a steam powered coaster and needed coal to power her engine.)   4th and 5th May brought high-force winds and the vessel was windbound in Ayr Harbour and could not leave. On 6th May the wind moderated and RAYLIGHT left for Applecross.   It is not known whether she went around the Mull of Kintyre or through the Crinan Canal but it's more likely she rounded Mull of Kintyre. 9th May she was at Applecross and discharging the coal.  It is very likely that the puffer would have to beach on the sandy shore and discharge her cargo of coal by the ships derrick and steel bucket into lorries and carts which came alongside the ship at low tide. RAYLIGHT finished discharging on 11th May and left for Greenock.   On 12th she passed through the Crinal Canal and on reaching Ardrishaig replenished her coal bunkers. On 13th May arrived at the Ross & Marshall repair yard at Greenock for boiler cleaning and repairs. 18th May saw her back in operation at Troon to load a cargo of coal for Dunoon.
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 1200 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	POLARLIGHT (1948-1974 Clyde steam puffer lighter 66 feet long of Light Shipping Co. / Ross & Marshall )	Own Page
POLARLIGHT at Whiting Bay (Isle of Arran) finishes discharging coal and then leaves for Troon
Ship's location Whiting Bay (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Scotland, UK) Arrived from Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) having left there 14 May Reg Tonnage 40 Arrived in berth Whiting Bay Pier on 14 May Sailing for After completing discharging left for Troon (Firth of Clyde) to load coal for Dunoon Cargo carried on arrival Coal 83 tons 18 hundredweights : for account of J. Shaw, Esq. Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 10, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	LIMELIGHT (1948-1963 steam general cargo puffer lighter Crinan Canal type 66 feet long of Light Shipping Company / Ross & Marshall, Greenock : scrapped at Dalmuir 1966)	Own Page
LIMELIGHT caught a rope around her propeller at Brodick (Arran) and was towed to Ardrossan
Ship's location Brodick Pier, Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (UK) Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294 Gross Tonnage 96 Deadweght Tonnage 140
LIMELIGHT was on hire from 9 May to around 22 May 1955 to British Railways (Scotland) and on 10 May, while working at Brodick Pier, had caught a rope around her propeller. and had to be towed to Ardrossan Harbour to free the propeller.
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but correct time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	STARLIGHT (1937 - 1967 Clyde puffer lighter Crinan Canal type 66 feet long of Light Shipping Co. / Ross & Marshall Ltd., Greenock : 1967 scrapped at Bowling))	Own Page
STARLIGHT at Troon loaded a cargo of Tarred (Tarry) metal for R. McEachran, Campbeltown
Ship's location Old Dock, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock Arrived from Campbeltown (Kintyre, Scotland) having discharged 81 tons 2 cwts of Tarred Metal for R. McEachran Gross Tonnage 91 Sailing for Campbeltown (Kintyre, Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Outward cargo Tarred metal 80 tons 11 hundredweights for account of R. McEachran Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	SKYLIGHT (1936-1967 steam engined Clyde puffer lighter Crinan Canal type 66 feet long of Light Shipping Company / Ross & Marshall Ltd., Greenock)	Own Page
SKYLIGHT at Queen's Dock, Glasgow loaded a cargo of coal for the Gas Works at Campbeltown
Ship's location Coaling crane at Queen's Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Custom House Quay, Clyde Street, Glasgow having discharged 110 tons of granite chips from Furnace Net Tonnage 40 Sailing for Campbeltown (Kintyre, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 90 Outward cargo Coal 106 tons 9 hundredweights for account of Engineer & Manager, cl Campbeltown Gas Works Stevedore loading outward cargo Clyde Navigation Trust's coaling crane Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294
News Event Tuesday, May 17, 1955 @ 0800		Own Page
Ross & Marshall's Daily Clyde Puffer Diary for 17 May 1955
News Event Friday, April 6, 1962 @ 1000		Own Page
April 1962 advert for summer sailings from Ardrossan Harbour to Douglas (Isle of Man)
Ship's location Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Sailing for Douglas (Isle of Man, UK) Ships agent Rennie & Watson, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1420	SD ANGELINE (2016- IMO: 9648544 Utility support vessel 25m overall of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
SD ANGELINE passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 200 Sailing for Serco Marine Base, Great Harbour, Greenock Deadweght Tonnage 620 Ships agent Serco Marine Services
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1432	ENDURANCE (in 2023 Inshore creel fishing boat GW42 at Greenock)	Own Page
ENDURANCE fishing boat GW42 passing Custom House Quay, Greenock, inbound to James Watt Dock
Arrived from Creel Fishing in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Fishery Quay, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1320	SD IMPETUS (1993- Tug IMO 9050802 : 32.53m overall length of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
SD IMPETUS passing Greenock Ocean Terminal and Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Greenock Ocean Terminal and Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 319 Sailing for Serco Base, Great Harbour, Greenock Deadweght Tonnage 92 Ships agent Serco Marine Services
13:20   SD IMPETUS arrives in Greenock from Faslane Naval Base and passes Greenock Ocean Terminal with liner REGAL PRINCESS at the cruise pontoon and heading for the Serco Base at Great Harbour.   14:55  The tug passes Custom House Quay, Greenock, on her passage from Great Harbour for the Royal Navy Base at Faslane. SD IMPETUS heading outbound for Faslane passes the liner REGAL PRINCESS at the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal.
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1220	PALFINGER (in 2025 Fast rescue RIB at Greenock)	Own Page
PALFINGER fast rescue RIB passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 0923	GANTOCK (2012- Pilot vessel of Peel Ports, Clydeport, Glasgow)	Own Page
GANTOCK arriving at Estuary Control to land Clyde Pilot from USNS WILLIAM McLEAN off Loch Long
Ship's location Approaching small boat harbour at Estuary Control, Greenock Port of Registry Greenock (Scotland, UK) Arrived from Landing the Clyde Pilot from USNS WILLIAM McLEAN off Loch Long
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 0913	UNKNOWN WORKBOAT (in May 2025 passing Gourock Pier, Scotland)	Own Page
UNKNOWN WORKBOAT inbound and passing Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Inbound and passing Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Contributed by Sandra B. Can anyone identify this workboat which was passing Gourock Pier at 0913 on 15 May 2025.   There were no visible names.
News Event Wednesday, September 10, 2025 @ 1135	LARGS INSHORE LIFEBOAT (in 2025 of Royal National Lifeboat Institution and stationed at Largs, Scotland)	Own Page
Largs Inshore Lifeboat capsizes in a rescue in Firth of Clyde (Scotland)
Ship's location Near Largs in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland Online News 11 September 2025 RNLI lifeboat capsizes during Clyde rescue Image source,Ardrossan CRT / Paul McGill Image caption, The inshore lifeboat R A Wilson capsized after being called out to an emergency     An RNLI lifeboat capsized after being called out to an emergency, leaving four volunteer crew members in the water. The inshore lifeboat RA Wilson, from Largs RNLI, was called out to help a fishing vessel that had started taking on water at about 11:35 on Wednesday. The crew managed to quickly right the lifeboat and got back onboard before being escorted back to Largs lifeboat station. The fishing boat later sank. Two people who had been onboard the fishing vessel were winched onto a rescue helicopter and taken ashore for medical assessment. The four RNLI volunteers were checked over by paramedics and were uninjured. The Largs-based Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat suffered some damage and is unavailable while repairs are undertaken. Emergency cover for the area will be delivered by nearby RNLI's lifeboat stations and a relief vessel will be taken to Largs. The RNLI's head of region, Jill Hepburn, said: "We are relieved that our volunteer crew were uninjured. "They were able to follow their training and reright the lifeboat and bring it alongside the marina in Largs." She added an investigation into the incident will be carried out. Coastguard teams from Greenock, Largs and Cumbrae as well as a search and rescue helicopter and another RNLI lifeboat from Troon attended the incident. "Nearby vessels were notified of the emergency and offered their assistance," a spokesperson for HM Coastguard said. Among the vessels that diverted to assist in the rescue were the CalMac ferries MV Glen Sannox and MV Loch Shira. Glen Sannox is currently unable to operate from Troon because work is being carried out on the harbour, so the newest ship in the CalMac fleet has been moved to Greenock for some snagging work to be carried out.
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 0905	ALICAT (2019- Passenger ferry 19m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
ALICAT approaching Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) with foot passengers from Dunoon
Ship's location Approaching Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 73 Sailing for Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Foot Passengers Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 0810	SOUND OF SOAY (2013- Passenger and 54-vehicle ferry of Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay, Dunoon, Argyll)	Own Page
SOUND OF SOAY on passage from Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde) for McInroy's Point, Gourock
Ship's location On passage from Hunter's Quay for Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 0800	LIVA GRETA (2008 -- General cargo ship IMO 8801072, MMSI 636020786 : 64.33m oversll of Cargo Mariners, Maidstone, England) )	Own Page
LIVA GRETA passing Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) and turning into Holy Loch for Sandbank Pier
Ship's location Passing Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) and turning into Holy Loch for Sandbank Pier Port of Registry Monrovia (Liberia) Arrived from Workington (England, UK) Net Tonnage 490 Sailing for Sandbank Pier, Holy Loch (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 851 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Deadweght Tonnage 1,248
LIVA GRETA had arrived from Workington (England) and was heading for the pier at the town of Sandbank in the Holy Loch.    A full cargo of logs, which had been felled in the surrounding hillside, was waiting on the pier and would be loaded onto the vessel by a grab crane.    Then LIVA GRETA would leave and retrace her steps back to Workington.
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1505	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
BUTE leaving Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde) for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde)
Ship's location Leaving Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
Contributed by Sandy (Skelmorlie)
News Event Tuesday, September 9, 2025 @ 1330		Own Page
Cost of new pier at Craignure (Isle of Mull) expected to cost £96 million
Ship's location Craignure (Isle of Mull, the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) in Scotland)
From BBC Scotland Online News 9 September 2025 Projected cost of new Mull ferry terminal almost doubles to £96m   Image source,PA Media Image caption, The terminal at Craignure is scheduled to be replaced Published The projected cost of a new ferry terminal on the Isle of Mull has almost doubled in five years. An official at Argyll & Bute Council revealed the estimated cost soared from £50m in 2020 to £96m, due to inflationary cost increases. The objectives of the project at Craignure - which mainly connects to Oban on the mainland - include replacing its existing infrastructure, parts of which are reportedly in poor condition or have limited structural capacity. The project also aims to increase berthing capacity and ensure that vessels can berth all year round, including in challenging weather conditions.   A contractor for the facility is also expected to be appointed early in the New Year, according to a report being presented to councillors on Thursday. Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: "This next stage will develop more accurate construction costing estimates as the design and methodology become more informed. "The initial construction phase projection cost of £50m is now estimated at circa £96m based on inflationary increases to the original 2020 estimates. "Officers are currently progressing with the tender to appoint the management consultants who will progress the project to Final Business Case (FBC). "The tender is anticipated to be live by November 2025 with an appointment expected in January 2026." An update on the passenger access system (PAS) at Craignure also featured in the report. Ms Flanagan added that design and build tenders were returned with costs "significantly higher than originally estimated". She also said that timescales were also significantly longer than expected. It has been proposed that an inspection and refurbishment of the existing terminal take place to extend its working life until the new pier is completed.
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1239	FIRE AND RESCUE BOAT (in 2025 motor boat of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service)	Own Page
FIRE AND RESCUE BOAT motor cruiser passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde)
Ship's location Inbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Can anyone identify this vessel.   It has an indecipherable emblem on the bow, the word FIRE across the front of the cabin and has a blue light at her mast, so obviously belongs to some official body 10 September. Robert replies :  Re: identity of your photo of the fire boat image on your website. This is one of the two fire and rescue boats used on the upper clyde. I have attached two photos taken from my camera screen of the one which is more or less a permanent fixture on the pontoon at the riverside museum. The other one I believe is on a trailer and based at Knightswood fire station. The emblem (not very clear in photo) is the fire brigade emblem.   Both these boats conduct rescue exercises on the River on a regular basis.
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1237	SEN ARCHE (2021 < Chemical / Oil Tanker IMO 9443061 : 110m overall of Arche Maritime Ltd., Istanbul, Turkey)	Own Page
SEN ARCHE passing Custom House Quay, Greenock outbound for Immingham (East Coast of England)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Valletta (Malta) Arrived from Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 5,284 Sailing for Immingham (on estuary of River Humber. Lincolnshire, East Coast of England, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 8,956 Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board
SEN ARCHE heading outbound and passing the liner SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR at Greenock Ocean Terminal
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1159	AURORA (in 2025 yacht at Greenock)	Own Page
AURORA yacht passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Arrived from Sea Sailing for James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1105	DELTA (in 2025 RIB of Police Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland, UK))	Own Page
DELTA Police RIB in James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) and heading out to sea
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) and heading out to sea Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Arrived from James Watt Dock Marina, The Sugar Warehouse East Hamilton Street, Greenock, Scotland, PA15 2UA Sailing for Sea
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1103	SD KYLE OF LOCHALSH (in 2022 : tug of Serco Denholm, London)	Own Page
SD KYLE OF LOCHALSH at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1101	LOUGH FOYLE (2009 < Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger IMO 7823310 : 75m overall of Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners - Londonderry, U.K)	Own Page
LOUGH FOYLE undergoing maintenance at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Londonderry (Northern Ireland, UK) Gross Tonnage 848
News Event Monday, February 7, 1921 @ 1200 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	KYPE (1921-1925 Steam powered general cargo coaster / lighter 66 feet overall of John Dickson, 101 St Vincent Street, Glasgow)	Own Page
KYPE being launched broadside by Munro & Co, Ltd., Kelvin Dock, Maryhill, Glasgow.
Ship's location Being launched by Munro & Co, Ltd., Kelvin Dock, Maryhill, Glasgow. Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 38 Gross Tonnage 98
Contributed image KYPE built by Munro & Co, Ltd., Kelvin Dock, Maryhill, Glasgow.  KYPE was reputed to be the last vessel which was launched broadside in Kelvin Dock.
News Event Friday, March 20, 1936 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	QUEEN MARY (1936-1940 Passenger liner 1,019.4 ft (310.7 m) of Cunard Line: 1940-1946 Troopship: 1946-1967 returned to service with Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
QUEEN MARY in 1936 in River Clyde just downriver from Clydebank to undertake builders trials
Ship's location River Clyde (Scotland, UK) just downriver from Clydebank Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Arrived from John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Sailing for Tail of the Bank Anchorage off Greenock then to conduct builders trials Ships agent John Brown's Shipyard, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Contributed image
News Event Sunday, September 7, 2025 @ 1407	EASTERN VANQUISH (2024 > General cargo ship IMO 9411836 : 88.97m overall of Eastern Shipping)	Own Page
EASTERN VANQUISH at Berth 5 at entrance to Griffin Dock, Port of Ayr with cargo from Rouen France
Ship's location Berth 5 at entrance to Griffin Dock, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from Rouen (France) having left there at 17:49 on 2 September Net Tonnage 1,170 Cargo carried on arrival Agriprods (= Agricultural produce = probably wheat or grain) Gross Tonnage 2,281 Deadweght Tonnage 3,250
Contributed by Veronika It was an afternoon of light rain, poor visibility and strong wind
News Event Sunday, September 7, 2025 @ 1359	BRUFJELL (2022 > General cargo ship IMO 9346665 : 89.95m overall of Aat Shipinvest As, Flekkefjord, Norway)	Own Page
BRUFJELL at Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) with cargo from Grenaa (Denmark)
Ship's location Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Flekkefjord (Norway) Arrived from Grenaa (Denmark) and left there at 1607 on 30 August : then sheltered off Lamlash (Arran) Gross Tonnage 2,984 Deadweght Tonnage 4,450
Contributed by Veronika It was an afternoon of light rain, poor visibility and strong wind
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1000	SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR (2023> Cruise Liner IMO 9877444 : , 223m 732ft overall of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Miami, USA)	Own Page
SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR arrives in the Firth of Clyde and heads for Greenock Cruise Pontoon
Arrived from Stornoway (Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides of Scotland, UK) having left there at 2300 on 3 September Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands, an island country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean) Sailing for Cruise pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 55,254 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers
10:00   SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR arriving in the Firth of Clyde and passing the town of Dunoon and heading for Greenock Ocean Terminal Now heading to round Kempock Point (= Gourock Pier) for Greenock Ocean Terminal 10:21   SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR is now passing Greenock Esplanade 10:31   The liner is now starting to turn around to enable her to go astern to her berth ... just like reversing a car (automobile) to reverse into a parking place 10:41   Having completed her turn the liner now starts to move astern to her berth at the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal 11:40   Stern view showing her 13 decks
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 0950	ALICAT (2019- Passenger ferry 19m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
ALICAT on passage from Dunoon to Gourock and passing Hunter's Quay and Holy Loch (Firth of Clyde)
Ship's location On passage from Dunoon to Gourock and passing Hunter's Quay and Holy Loch (Firth of Clyde) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 73 Sailing for Gourock Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Foot Passengers Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
Caledonian MacBrayne's foot-passenger ferry ALICAT passes Hunter's Quay and the entrance to the Holy Loch on her daily service between Dunoon and Gourock.     And is there anything interesting about the Holy Loch ?    Well Wikipedia tells us ....   The Holy Loch (Scottish Gaelic: An Loch Sianta/Seunta) is a sea loch, part of the Firth of Clyde, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The "Holy Loch" name is believed to date from the 6th century, when Saint Munn landed there after leaving Ireland. Kilmun Parish Church and Argyll Mausoleum is said to stand where Saint Munn's church was once located. Robertson's Yard at Sandbank, a village on the loch, was a major wooden boat building company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During World War II, the loch was used as a British Royal Navy submarine base. From 1961 to 1992, it was used as a United States Navy ballistic missile submarine base. In 1992, the Holy Loch base was deemed unnecessary following the demise of the Soviet Union and subsequently closed. Geography Open on the Firth of Clyde at its eastern end, the loch is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and between 2 and 3 miles (3 and 5 km) long, varying with the tide. Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula lies on the shores of the Clyde just to the south of the loch, and houses continue round the villages of Kirn, Hunters Quay, Ardnadam and past Lazaretto Point, the village of Sandbank, with open countryside at the end of the loch, then on the northern shore Kilmun, and at Strone Point the village of Strone continues on the western shore of the Firth of Clyde, almost joining Blairmore on Loch Long. All the villages used to have piers served by Clyde steamers, and now Western Ferries runs between Hunters Quay and McInroy's Point on the outskirts of Gourock, while the Argyll Ferries service runs from Dunoon to Gourock pierhead. At the end of the loch, the A815 (after being joined by the A880 at Ardbeg) leads north, to the east of the River Eachaig, to the Benmore Botanic Garden and Arboretum (also known as the Younger Botanic Gardens), Loch Eck and on towards Inveraray. History Medieval period On the shore of the Holy Loch at Kilmun (Gaelic Cill Mhunnu, 'the church of St Munnu') stands a nineteenth-century church. It stands on the site of a sequence of earlier churches, and an early carved stone on the site suggests that there was a church here perhaps as early as the sixth or seventh century. The dedication to St Munnu, otherwise known as Fintan, St Munn (Fintán of Taghmon), reflects devotion to an Irish saint who founded a church at Taghmon in Leinster. The remains of a 12th-century church are still visible at Kilmun.[1] At the present site of Kilmun Church, a church building is recorded in the 13th century.[2] By the 15th century, the significance of Kilmun as a local centre of Christianity was so great that the adjacent loch became known as the Holy Loch, and the powerful Clan Campbell adopted it as their spiritual home.[1] From the 14th century, Dunoon Castle, a short distance away, was held by the Campbell family and in the 1440s Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochawe (later 1st Lord Campbell), the then chief of the clan, lived near Kilmun in a private residence named Strathechaig.[3] Modern history  Robertson's Yard Main article: Alexander Robertson & Sons Alexander Robertson started repairing boats in a small workshop at Sandbank in 1876, and Alexander Robertson & Sons went on to become one of the foremost wooden boat builders on the Clyde. Their 'golden years' were in the early 20th century when they started building classic 12 & 15 metre racing yachts. Robertsons was chosen to build the first 15-metre yacht designed by William Fife (Shimna, 1907). More than 55 boats were built by Robertsons in preparation for the First World War and the yard remained busy even during the Great Depression in the 1930s, as many wealthy businessmen developed a passion for yacht racing. During World War II the yard was devoted to Admiralty work, producing a wide range of large high speed Fairmile Marine Motor Boats (MTBs and MGBs). After the war the yard built the successful one-class Loch Longs and two 12-metre challengers for the America's Cup: Sceptre (1958) (17 tonnes) and Sovereign (1964). The Robertson family sold the yard in 1965, and it was turned over to GRP production work (mainly Pipers and Etchells). During its 104-year history, Robertson's Yard built 500 boats, many of which are still sailing. The yard ceased trading in the early 1980s; at this point it was owned by Terry Hooper who ran the yard servicing mostly the US Navy. After the US navy packed up and left the area Hooper sold the yard in the 1990s. The site has since been converted to residential building and the new Holy Loch Marina development. The yard today is still widely known in the area as 'Hooper's Yard'. World War II HMS Graph, HMS Sturgeon, HMS Tigris, P 42 at Holy Loch WWII During World War II the loch was used by the Royal Navy as a submarine base, served by the depot ship HMS Forth. The loch was used extensively for trials and exercises by Royal Navy submarines during the war, the submarines HMS Vandal (P64) and HMS Untamed (P58) were lost in the Clyde after being sunk by accidents during exercises. Untamed was later salvaged. Near the Holy Loch an anti-submarine boom was constructed between Dunoon and the Cloch Point Lighthouse to defend waters from German U-boats. US Navy at Holy Loch Main article: Submarine Squadron 14 USS Abraham Lincoln (SSBN-602) in the floating drydock USS Los Alamos (AFDB-7) Between 1961 and 1992, Holy Loch was the site of the United States Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Refit Site One. It was the home base of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 14, part of Submarine Force, US Atlantic Fleet. To make maximum use of its submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) force, the American military had determined that it required an overseas base for refit and crew turnover. Negotiations with the British government began in March 1959 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower mentioned the need to British prime minister Harold Macmillan at a meeting at Camp David. Holy Loch was one of several locations on or near the Firth of Clyde considered for the refit site. Others were Faslane, the channel between Largs and Cumbrae, Rosneath Bay, and Rothesay Bay. Site selection criteria included the requirements for a sheltered anchorage, relative proximity to an international airport, and sufficient shore facilities to provide housing for military personnel and their families. Agreement for the use of Holy Loch was reached near the end of 1960 and the arrival of the first tender, USS Proteus (AS-19) scheduled for December. Divisions within the British government and concerns about protests by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) caused her arrival to be rescheduled to 3 March 1961.[4] Protests at the site followed.[5] Between 1961 and 1982, the Naval Support Activity ashore was administered by US Naval Activities London. In 1982, Naval Support Activity (NAVSUPPACT), Forward Base, Holy Loch, Scotland became its own command. NAVSUPPACT ultimately managed 42 facilities and leased 342 housing units for Navy personnel and their dependents. Holy Loch's most prosperous period occurred with the naval base and its 3,000 Americans.[6] A monument was built to the US Navy years in the Castle Gardens, Dunoon.[7] Over the years, five different submarine tenders and one floating dry dock served in the loch. Submarine tenders Arrived Departed Tender Notes March 1961 January 1963 USS Proteus (AS-19) Commenced first site one refit 6 March 1961. (USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599)) January 1963 August 1966 USS Hunley (AS-31)   August 1966 May 1970 USS Simon Lake (AS-33)   May 1970 November 1975 USS Canopus (AS-34)   November 1975 January 1982 USS Holland (AS-32)   January 1982 June 1987 USS Hunley (AS-31)   June 1987 March 1992 USS Simon Lake (AS-33)   Floating dry dock Arrived Departed Drydock Notes June 1961 February 1992 Los Alamos (AFDB-7) February 1964, completed the first "off centre" docking of a Polaris submarine Two notable incidents occurred during the three-decade long deployment of SUBRON 14 at Holy Loch. On 29 November 1970, a fire erupted on USS Canopus, killing three of her complement. Almost four years later, on 3 November 1974, the nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS James Madison (SSBN-627) collided with a Soviet submarine, assumed to be a Victor-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, during a dive just after departing from Holy Loch. The American submarine was dented and suffered a nine-foot scratch on her hull. She spent a full week at the base for inspection and repairs.[8][9] Laurel Clark, known to her shipmates as "Doc Salton", was assigned as the Radiation Health Officer and Undersea Medical Officer at SUBRON 14. Clark was one of the astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on 1 February 2003.[10] New technologies and the end of the Cold War led to the base being deemed unnecessary. The last submarine tender to be based there, the USS Simon Lake (AS-33), left Holy Loch in November 1991, ahead of the base closing the following June.[11] The closing of the base caused significant economic decline.[6]
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 0835	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's BUTE on passage from Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde) for Wemyss Bay
Ship's location On passage from Rothesay (Isle of Bute) for Wemyss Bay Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
Contributed by Sandra B.  (Site Administrator)   BUTE leaving Rothesay.    I overheard a foreign visitor trying to pronounce Rothesay.  It is "ROTH" as in a "moth" and then "SAY" ... as in to say something.   So it is pronounced as "Roth-say" and forget all about the "e" in it's name.   Passing the town of Toward (and Toward Lighthouse.)   Incidentally this town is pronounced "tow" as in a "cow" ... then "ard" .... so it's just like "coward" but starting with a "t" With the town of Innellan in the background BUTE approaching Wemyss Bay
News Event Thursday, September 4, 2025 @ 1130	SEN ARCHE (2021 < Chemical / Oil Tanker IMO 9443061 : 110m overall of Arche Maritime Ltd., Istanbul, Turkey)	Own Page
SEN ARCHE leaves the Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank for Immingham (England)
Arrived from Plymouth (England, UK) having departed at 19:02 on 1 September Port of Registry Valletta (Malta) Sailing for Immingham (on estuary of River Humber. Lincolnshire, East Coast of England, UK) Gross Tonnage 5,284 Sailed from berth Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) assisted by tug SVITZER MILFORD Deadweght Tonnage 8,956 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board
Contributed by Robert McManus Tug SVITZER MILFORD follows the tanker from Rothesay Dock and will accompany her, close astern, on the 19 mile journey down the River Clyde to the wide estuary at Greenock
News Event Wednesday, September 3, 2025 @ 1500	SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR (2023> Cruise Liner IMO 9877444 : , 223m 732ft overall of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Miami, USA)	Own Page
SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR on a 12-day cruise at Stornoway (Isle of Lewis, Western Isles of Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Stornoway (Isle of Lewis, Western Isles of Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands, an island country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean) Arrived from Kirkwall (Orkney Islands, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 55,254 Sailing for Greenock (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers
News Event Tuesday, April 29, 2025 @ 1228	SD DEPENDABLE (2010- Shiphandling tug 29.14m overall of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
SD DEPENDABLE passing Custom House Quay, Greenock for the Serco Base at Great Harbour
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 271 Sailing for Serco Base, Great Harbour, Greenock
Tug SD DEPENDABLE had come from the Royal Navy Base at Faslane and was heading for the Serco Marine Base at Great Harbour, Greenock, to collect the Unmanned Dumb Barge SD OILMAN and tow her to the Faslane Base.
Radio Message Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 1353	DMS POPPY (in 2024 Admiralty Pilot Boat 16.5m overall of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
Radio message from DMS POPPY to Estuary Control "Leaving Number 24 buoy for Great Harbour"
Ship's location Leaving Number 24 buoy (Faslane, Gare Loch) for Great Harbour (Greenock) Port of Registry London (England, UK)
Radio Message Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 1516	LACTA (2024> Bulk Carrier IMO 9502362 : 197m overall of Doun Kisen, Imabari, Japan / Diligent Holdings)	Own Page
Radio message from Pilot on LACTA to Estuary Control "Passing Port Glasgow heading out"
Ship's location Passing Port Glasgow (River Clyde) heading outbound Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands, an island country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean) Gross Tonnage 33,096 Deadweght Tonnage 58,713
Radio Message Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 1437	LACTA (2024> Bulk Carrier IMO 9502362 : 197m overall of Doun Kisen, Imabari, Japan / Diligent Holdings)	Own Page
Radio message from Pilot on LACTA to Estuary Control "Passing Dunglass heading out"
Ship's location Passing Dunglass (River Clyde) heading outbound Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands, an island country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean) Gross Tonnage 33,096 Deadweght Tonnage 58,713
News Event Tuesday, September 2, 2025 @ 1315	RIX FLEVO (2014 < Cargo / Container ship IMO 9139335 : 88.2m overall of Rix Shipmanagement Sia, Riga, Latvia)	Own Page
RIX FLEVO at Port of Ayr after discharging her cargo of agricultural products from Denmark
Ship's location Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Limassol (Cyprus) Arrived from Nakskov (Southern Denmark) ...having left there at 11.41 on 22 August Gross Tonnage 2,901 Cargo carried on arrival Agriprods (= Agricultural produce) Deadweght Tonnage 4,515
News Event Tuesday, September 2, 2025 @ 1259	WILSON AVONMOUTH (2010< Multi-purpose dry cargo ship IMO 9313747 : 88.24m overall of Wilson Shipowning As, Bergen, Norway)	Own Page
WILSON AVONMOUTH at Port of Ayr (Scotland) with a cargo of fertilisers from Porsgrunn (Norway)
Ship's location Berth 16, Port of Ayr, Ayr (Scotland, UK) ... with her head north Port of Registry Bridgetown (Barbados) Arrived from Porsgrunn (Norway) having left there at 2314 on 27 August Net Tonnage 1,325 Cargo carried on arrival Fertilisers Gross Tonnage 2,451 Deadweght Tonnage 3,595
News Event Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1038	CAMERON (1991 < Workboat / Buoyage / Mooring vessel IMO 9008495 : 33m overall of Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd - Burntisland, UK.)	Own Page
CAMERON is inbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Inbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 507 Deadweght Tonnage 161
News Event Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1353	SOUND OF SEIL (2013- roro ferry of Western Ferries, Hunters Quay, Scotland)	Own Page
SOUND OF SEIL loading and leaving McInroy's Point, Gourock for Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde)
Ship's location Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Hunter's Quay (Cowal Peninsula, Firth of Clyde, Southern Scottish Highlands (Scotland, UK)) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1313	OBSESSION (Motor Cruiser 12m overall of Clyde Charters, Inverkip, Scotland)	Own Page
Clyde Charters OBSESSION passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Inverkip (= Kip Marina, Inverkip, Scotland) Arrived from James Watt Dock Marina, The Sugar Warehouse East Hamilton Street, Greenock, Scotland, PA15 2UA Sailing for Firth of Clyde (probably for a visit to the wreck of the sugar boat or dolphin watching)
News Event Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1010	SMB 03 SALAMANDER (Survey Motor Boat of Royal Navy, London)	Own Page
Royal Navy's SMB 03 SALAMANDER passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Admiralty, London (England, UK) Arrived from James Watt Dock Marina, The Sugar Warehouse East Hamilton Street, Greenock, Scotland, PA15 2UA Sailing for Marine Operations in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, May 8, 2025 @ 1353	SOUND OF SCARBA (2001- Ro-ro ferry 49.95m overall of Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay)	Own Page
SOUND OF SCARBA arriving at Span 2, Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock
Ship's location Arriving at Span 2, Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 489 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Deadweght Tonnage 229 Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
News Event Tuesday, May 31, 1966 @ 0840	DUCHESS OF HAMILTON ( 1932-1971 Passenger excursion steamer 272 feet long with triple screws of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock)	Own Page
DUCHESS OF HAMILTON's 1966 summer season Tuesday sailings from Craigendoran to Inverary
Outward cargo Passengers Port of Registry Glasgow Ships agent Caledonian Steam Packet Company Ltd., Gourock, Scotland, UK Net Tonnage 297 Gross Tonnage 801 Deadweght Tonnage 155
News Event Monday, September 1, 2025 @ 1600	ISLE OF ISLAY (2025 > Ro-ro ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
ISLE OF ISLAY : delivery of Caledonian MacBrayne's new Turkish-built ferry is delayed again
Ship's location Cemre Shipyard, Yalova (Turkey) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland Online News 1 September 2025   New Turkish-built CalMac ferry delayed again Image source,CMAL Image caption, The Isle of Islay is expected to enter service on the Kennacraig to Islay route later this year   The delivery date of the first Turkish-built ferry ordered by CalMac has been pushed back again due to a delay in sea trials. According to a letter from the government-owned ferries procurement company CMAL, the first of the fleet, the MV Isle of Islay, will not meet an anticipated delivery date of 30 September due to sea trials still needing to take place. MV Isle of Islay is one of four new ferries being built for Scotland's west coast routes by the Cemre shipyard at Yalova in Turkey. The contract was awarded in March 2022 with delivery expected last October but after a series of delays it is now likely to enter service later this year. In the letter to the net zero, energy and transport committee, CMAL confirmed that the vessel has undergone two sets of sea trials in the Sea of Marmara. However it is yet to undertake the CMAL acceptance trials, which they hope will take place in mid-September. CMAL also confirmed that the vessel's internal lifts and roll-on/roll-off gear have yet to be completed.   Image source,CMAL Image caption, MV Loch Indaal was launched in August The letter said: "We are very aware of the need to expedite delivery of this 'first in class' vessel for the benefit of the island communities and likewise the shipyard is fully focussed on delivery as efficiently as possible. "We do not anticipate any major issues to arise in the CMAL acceptance trials but until successfully completed we cannot accurately predict a date for delivery. "It is however clear that delivery will not be achieved within September 2025." Once the ferry passes acceptance trials, it will begin a two-week journey via Gilbratar and the Bay of Biscay, off the west coast of France, to Scottish waters. It will then undergo a "period of familiarisation" with the ports it will operate from. Ferry delays The MV Isle of Islay will operate on the Kennacraig to Islay route. The vessel was launched on time in March last year and was due to enter service in October 2024. But it has faced a series of setbacks including delays in delivery of equipment and materials due to global supply chain difficulties. The update confirmed that progress is continuing on the other three ferries in the fleet being built in Turkey. The MV Loch Indaal and MV Lochmor have both been launched while the last ferry, the MV Claymore, remains on the slipway.
News Event Tuesday, April 29, 2025 @ 0755	MSC SPRING 111 (2015 > Container ship IMO 9316359 : 212m overall of MSC lINE)	Own Page
MSC SPRING 111 approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal with containers from Liverpool
Ship's location Off Greenock Esplanade, approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Monrovia (Liberia) Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) having left there at 1142 on 28 April Gross Tonnage 32,200 Cargo carried on arrival Containers Deadweght Tonnage 39,063
Contributed by Sandra B.  (Site Administrator)    First let me sincerely apologise for the exceptionally poor quality of images in this item.    Leaving home just after 7am there was a slight sea-mist on the lower reaches of the Firth of Clyde.   So far so good.    Shortly afterwards at Greenock Esplanade there was an almost solid wall of mist.   Not good.    So when the three vessels appeared, slowly and carefully creeping out of the mist and murk, I knew that any images would be sub-standard but, being there, might as well take some photographs to see how they turned out.   Off Greenock Esplanade MSC SPRING 111 and tugs SVITZER MILFORD and SVITZER WARDEN emerge slowly in a bank of sea-mist Just a momentary slight clearing of the mist Tug SVITZER WARDEN moving to the bow Tug SVITZER MILFORD pulling at the stern of MSC SPRING 111 The wall of mist and low-sunrise combined to ruin this image of the ship canting to come astern onto the container berth
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1115	CALEDONIAN ISLES (1993- Passenger and vehicle ferry 308 feet 94m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's CALEDONIAN ISLES exercising deploying her passenger evacuation equipment
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland Gross Tonnage 5,221
12:45   CALEDONIAN ISLES radio message to Estuary Control that "Now finished with MAS deployment"
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1450	BBC BRISBANE (2012 < General cargo ship IMO 9578763 : 128.55m overall of Briese Heavylift Gmbh & Co Kg - Leer, Germany)	Own Page
BBC BRISBANE outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland) for Rostock (Germany)
Ship's location Outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry St John's (Antigua and Barbuda) Sailing for Rostock (Germany) Gross Tonnage 6,309 Sailed from berth Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) ... assisted by tug SVITZER WARDEN Deadweght Tonnage 7,997 Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board
13:58   Radio message from Pilot on BBC BRISBANE to Estuary Control (Greenock) ... "Now passing Dunglass (== just upriver from Dumbarton Rock), outbound." 14:50   BBC BRISBANE passing Custom House Quay, Greenock Passing the Liner REGAL PRINCESS at the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal
News Event Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 1530	ARGYLE (2006- Passenger and vehicle ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
ARGYLE approaching Wemyss Bay Pier from Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Arriving at Wemyss Bay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Arrived from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Wednesday, August 27, 2025 @ 1000		Own Page
Plan to redevelop Greenock's James Watt Dock area and Titan Crane
From BBC Scotland Online News 27 August 2025 'Longest urban zipline' plan for Clydeside crane  Image source,Peel Waters Image caption, The Greenock Titan Crane has loomed over the dockyard for more than 100 years Published 26 August 2025 Updated 27 August 2025 A giant Clydeside crane could be used for a zipline under plans to redevelop a historic dockyard. Ownership of the A-listed Titan crane and Sugar Sheds at Greenock's James Watt Dock are to be passed to developers, subject to planning approval. James Watt Dock LLP, which owns the dockyard area, said the sale could lead to the area being used for leisure, restaurants and housing. This includes a proposal for the crane to be used for "what could become the longest urban zip slide in the UK". Image source,Peel Waters Image caption, The crane and Sugar Sheds stand next to a marina in Greenock The Greenock Titan Crane was built in 1917 and is one of only four surviving Titans on the Clyde. It was constructed by Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd - a Glasgow engineering firm that built some of the UK's most famous steel structures, including the second Tay Bridge, the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London. The crane has recently been repaired following reports earlier this year that debris from the structure had fallen on a boat during high winds, sparking fears for its long-term future. The A-listed Sugar Sheds, formerly used to store sugarcane transported from the Caribbean, stand dilapidated at the base of the crane. The crane was used for fitting out ships when Greenock was a shipbuilding town The crane, sheds and a boatyard area are currently owned by Riverside Inverclyde - a joint venture between Scottish Enterprise and Inverclyde Council - and Peel Waters. It has agreed a conditional sale to Glasgow Arts Centre Limited, which is also involved in redevelopment work on the Titan crane at Barclay Curle shipyard, in Glasgow's Whiteinch. The redevelopment of the Greenock site is to be completed in three stages, starting with the crane and two of the four Sugar Sheds, under proposals announced on the Inverclyde Council website, external. The next phase - the redevelopment of the other two sheds - would only begin once the first stage was successfully completed. The project is to conclude with work on the boatyard area of the site. Planning permission is expected to be submitted to Inverclyde Council in the coming weeks.  Image source,Transient Places Image caption, The James Watt Dock Titan crane, photographed some years ago. Images courtesy of Transient Places. Image source,Transient Places Image caption, The crane has become dilapidated Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe said: "This is a significant moment not just for the historic Sugar Sheds and iconic Titan Crane but for the ongoing regeneration of Inverclyde." He said the redevelopment had "the potential to create an exciting new attraction to encourage even more people, near and far, to discover Inverclyde and the many great things we have to offer". Brian Lavalette, property director for Scotland at Peel Waters and member of the James Watt Dock LLP board, said: "This is an exciting moment for the Inverclyde waterfront. "Glasgow Arts Centre Limited brings imagination, experience and a genuine commitment to heritage-led development." Bradley Mitchell, director of Glasgow Arts Centre Limited, added: "We feel the site has a lot of potential for small businesses and start-ups and could be something really exciting for Greenock."
News Event Wednesday, July 20, 1932 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY ( 1895-1946 Clyde Side Paddle Steamer 225 feet overall of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock : 1946 scrapped)	Own Page
Painting of KING EDWARD (on outside) and DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY at Rothesay Pier in 1932
Ship's location Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 95 Gross Tonnage 385
Contributed image
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1445	SOUND OF SCARBA (2001- Ro-ro ferry 49.95m overall of Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay)	Own Page
SOUND OF SCARBA passing the town of Strone (Holy Loch, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing the town of Strone (Holy Loch, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 489 Sailing for Hunter's Quay (Cowal Peninsula, Firth of Clyde, Southern Scottish Highlands (Scotland, UK)) Deadweght Tonnage 229 Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
A slight sea-mist as SOUND OF SCARBA approaches the entrance to Holy Loch and ahead is the Liner SEABOURN SOJOURN at anchor
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1408	SOUND OF SCARBA (2001- Ro-ro ferry 49.95m overall of Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay)	Own Page
SOUND OF SCARBA leaving Hunter's Quay for McInroy's Point Terminal, Gourock
Sailing for Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailed from berth Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 489 Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Deadweght Tonnage 229
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1117	SOUND OF SCARBA (2001- Ro-ro ferry 49.95m overall of Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay)	Own Page
SOUND OF SCARBA arriving at McInroy's Point Terminal with passengers and vehicles from Hunter's Quay
Arrived from Hunter's Quay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 489 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Deadweght Tonnage 229 Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1107	SOUND OF SHUNA (2003- Roro ferry 49.95m of Western Ferries, Hunters Quay, Scotland)	Own Page
SOUND OF SHUNA loading passengers and vehicles at McInroy's Point Terminal, Gourock
Ship's location Western Ferries, McInroy's Point Terminal, Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Hunter's Quay (Cowal Peninsula, Firth of Clyde, Southern Scottish Highlands (Scotland, UK)) Gross Tonnage 489 Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Deadweght Tonnage 229
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1026	AURORA (2001 > Container ship IMO 9234989 : 134.42m overall of BG Freight Line, Rotterdam, The Netherlands)	Own Page
AURORA leaves Greenock Ocean Terminal with containers for Dublin (Ireland)
Sailing for Dublin (Ireland) Port of Registry Antigua and Barbuda Sailed from berth Greenock Ocean Terminal West (Scotland, UK) .... Container Berth Outward cargo Containers Draught aft on sailing 7.1meters Ships agent BG Freight Line
A beautiful and calm and warm summer morning, with a touch of patchy sea-mist. 10:11   AURORA ... Draft 7.1meters for Dublin.   Ready to leave. 10:19   AURORA ... Let go all ropes   10:43   AURORA passing Kempock Point, outbound for Dublin.
News Event Wednesday, July 20, 1960 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate		Own Page
Youtube film of entering Hong Kong Harbour in 1960
Ship's location Hong Kong
Contributed by Suzanne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WOYcdwdU1Q
News Event Wednesday, February 9, 1966 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	U.S.S. RANDOLPH (in 1966 Aircraft Carrier CV15 of US Navy)	Own Page
Youtube video of Aircraft Carrier USS RANDOLPH (CV 15) at Hamburg (Germany) in 1966
Ship's location Hamburg (Germany)
Contributed by Suzanne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWnhD4kNOiQ
News Event Saturday, May 1, 1965 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate		Own Page
BBC film 3.33 minutes in 1965 of Customs at work at Apapa Quay, Nigeria
Ship's location Apapa Port, Nigeria
Contributed by Suzanne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpMtA0WRxsM
News Event Wednesday, January 3, 2024 @ 0600 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate		Own Page
Youtube video 1.18minute of anchorage at Port Said, Egypt on 3 January 2024
Ship's location Anchorage at Port Said, Egypt
Contributed by Suzanne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYjmFR_l7F8
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1255	SD IMPETUS (1993- Tug IMO 9050802 : 32.53m overall length of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
SD IMPETUS passing Custom House Quay, Greenock for the Naval Base at Faslane
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from Serco Marine Services Base, Great Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 319 Sailing for HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 92
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1400 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	EMPRESS OF ENGLAND (1957-1970 Passenger Liner 640 feet long of Canadian Pacific Steamships, Liverpool : 1975 scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan)	Own Page
EMPRESS OF ENGLAND left Tail-of-the-Bank, the anchorage off Greenock, for Liverpool
Arrived from Quebec and Montreal (Canada) Port of Registry Liverpool Sailing for Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 25,585 Sailed from berth Tail-of-the-Bank, the anchorage off Greenock (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 8,910
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ARKADIA (1958-1966 Emigrant ship / Cruise liner 590 feet overall of Arcadia Steam Ship Company, Andros, Greece : December 1966 scrapped at Valencia, Spain)	Own Page
ARKADIA left Left Gravesend (River Thames, England, UK) for Montreal (Province of Quebec, Canada)
Sailing for Montreal (Province of Quebec, Canada) Port of Registry Greece Sailed from berth Left Gravesend (River Thames, England, UK) Gross Tonnage 20,259
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENARMIN (1963-1972 General cargo liner 550 feet long of William Thomson's Ben Line, Leith)	Own Page
BENARMIN at Kobe (Japan) for Moji (Japan)
Ship's location Kobe (Japan) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland) Sailing for Moji (Japan) Net Tonnage 6,486 Gross Tonnage 11,362 Deadweght Tonnage 13,015
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENDORAN (1956-1977 Conventional general cargo liner 508 feet long 17 knots of William Thomson's Ben Line of Leith : 1977 scrapped in Taiwan)	Own Page
BENDORAN left Hong Kong for Singapore (pronounced sing--a--pore) .... not sing-ga-pore
Sailing for Singapore (pronounced sing--a--pore) .... not sing-ga-pore Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Hong Kong Gross Tonnage 10,355 Deadweght Tonnage 12,100
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENLOYAL (1959-1978 General cargo liner 550 feet long of William Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh : scrapped 1978)	Own Page
BENLOYAL left Hong Kong for Yokohama (Japan)
Sailing for Yokohama (Japan) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Hong Kong
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENVALLA (1962-1972 General cargo liner 550 feet long of William Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh)	Own Page
BENVALLA left Aden (Yemen) for Suez Canal
Sailing for Suez (Egypt) .. the southern entrance to the Suez Canal which leads to the Mediterranean Sea) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Aden (Yemen)
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENVENUE (1948-1973 General cargo liner 475 feet long of Ben Line / William Thomson, Edinburgh)	Own Page
BENVENUE left Rejang (Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia) for Singapore (pronounced sing--a--pore)
Sailing for Singapore (pronounced sing--a--pore) .... not sing-ga-pore Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Rejang (Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia)
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENVORLICH (1946-1971 General cargo ship of William Thomson Ben Line, Edinburgh)	Own Page
BENVORLICH left London (England, UK) for Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Sailing for Rotterdam (The Netherlands) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland) Sailed from berth London (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 9,767
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CARINTHIA (1956-1968 Passenger / cargo liner 608 feet long of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
CARINTHIA from Liverpool at Quebec City (pronounced KIB-BECK : Canada)
Ship's location Quebec City (pronounced KIB-BECK : the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 21,947
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CARMENCITA (1959-1975 Ore carrier 517 feet long 66 feet beam of J M Ugland Shipping, Grimstad)	Own Page
CARMENCITA from Glasgow (Scotland, UK) at Seven Islands (= Sept Iles, Canada)
Ship's location Seven Islands (= Sept Iles, Canada) Port of Registry Grimstad (Norway) Arrived from Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 4,231 Gross Tonnage 10,858 Deadweght Tonnage 16,300
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CITY OF GLASGOW (in 1964 at Port Said and London)	Own Page
CITY OF GLASGOW left Port Said (Egypt) having passed through Suez Canal for London (England, UK)
Sailing for London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Port Said (Egypt) having passed through Suez Canal on a northbound convoy
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CITY OF HEREFORD (1958-1971 General cargo liner of Ellerman Hall Line, London)	Own Page
CITY OF HEREFORD left Madras (Madras State, Tamil Nadu, India) for Liverpool (England, UK)
Sailing for Liverpool (England, UK) Port of Registry London Sailed from berth Madras (Madras State, Tamil Nadu, India : in 1996 the city of Madras was renamed Chennai) Gross Tonnage 4,954 Deadweght Tonnage 7,610
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CLAN MACDOUGALL (1944-1971 cargo liner 508 feet long of Clan Line Steamers)	Own Page
CLAN MACDOUGALL from Liverpool (England, UK) at Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
Ship's location Port Elizabeth (South Africa) Port of Registry Glasgow Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 9710
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	DUNSTAN (1948-1951 then 1958-1966 General cargo ship of Booth Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
DUNSTAN at Lisboa / Lisbon (Portugal) for UK
Ship's location Lisboa / Lisbon (Portugal) Port of Registry Liverpool (England) Sailing for UK Gross Tonnage 2,993
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	MANIPUR (1945-1967 General cargo ship of T & J Brocklebank, Liverpool : 1967 scrapped)	Own Page
MANIPUR left Jeddah (in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia) for Colombo (Ceylon)
Sailing for Colombo (Ceylon : since 1972 known as Sri Lanka) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, U.K.) Sailed from berth Jeddah (in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia) Gross Tonnage 8,559
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	OLINDA (1950-1966 General cargo ship of British India Steam Navigation Co., London)	Own Page
OLINDA left Jeddah (in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia) for Colombo (Ceylon)
Sailing for Colombo (Ceylon : since 1972 known as Sri Lanka) Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Sailed from berth Jeddah (in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia) Gross Tonnage 5,424
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ORONSAY (1951-1975 Passenger liner 708 feet long of P & O-Orient Line, London)	Own Page
ORONSAY left Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) for Sydney (Australia)
Sailing for Sydney (Australia) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada)
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	PORT AUCKLAND ( 1949 - 1976 Refrigerated cargo liner 510 feet long of Port Line, London)	Own Page
PORT AUCKLAND at Montreal (Canadian Province of Quebec) for Liverpool (England, UK)
Ship's location Montreal (the largest city of the Canadian Province of Quebec) Port of Registry London Sailing for Liverpool (England, UK)
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	QUEEN MARY (1936-1940 Passenger liner 1,019.4 ft (310.7 m) of Cunard Line: 1940-1946 Troopship: 1946-1967 returned to service with Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
QUEEN MARY left New York (USA) for Southampton (England, UK)
Sailing for Southampton (England, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Sailed from berth New York (USA)
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ROMNEY (1952-1978 General cargo ship 472 feet long of Lamport & Holt Line, Liverpool :1978 Scrapped)	Own Page
ROMNEY left Las Palmas (capital of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands) for Rosario (Argentina)
Sailing for Rosario (Rosario Department, Argentina) Port of Registry Liverpool (England) Sailed from berth Las Palmas (Spanish city and capital of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean) Gross Tonnage 8,237
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	SUNDA (1952-1968 Refrigerated / general cargo liner 523 feet long of P & O Steam Navigation Company, London)	Own Page
SUNDA left Honj Kong for London (England, UK)
Sailing for London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Honj Kong Net Tonnage 4,965 Gross Tonnage 9,235 Deadweght Tonnage 11,571
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1964 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	TARKWA (1944-1967 General cargo ship of Elder Dempster Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
TARKWA from Port Harcourt (Rivers State, Nigeria) at Liverpool (England, UK)
Ship's location Liverpool (England, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England) Arrived from Port Harcourt (Rivers State, Nigeria) Gross Tonnage 7,416 Ships agent Elder Dempster Line, Liverpool
News Event Wednesday, August 13, 2025 @ 1224	NACC AFRICAN (1996 < Cement Carrier IMO 9116515 : 145m overall of Nova Algoma Cement Carriers Ltd)	Own Page
NACC AFRICAN arriving in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) and passing the town of Dunoon
Ship's location Arriving in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) and passing the town of Dunoon Port of Registry Panama Arrived from Arzew (Algeria, North Africa) having left there at 18:08 on 5 August Sailing for Berth 4 King George V Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) assisted by tug CMS THUNDERER Cargo carried on arrival Cement
13:00    NACC AFRICAN passing Custom House Quay, Greenock.    Tug CMS THUNDERER is close astern If you were ever seriously worried about the name NACC ..... well here is your answer.   On the funnel (smoke stack) is Nova Algoma Cement Carriers Limited Tug CMS THUNDERER following close astern The cement carrier is now turning to shape up to round Garvel Point on her 19-mile passage up the River Clyde to King George V Dock, Glasgow
News Event Friday, August 1, 1930 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	Renfrew - Yoker Ferry (Around 1930s Chain-driven ro-ro ferry of Clyde Navigation Trust, Glasgow)	Own Page
Around 1930s RENFREW - YOKER chain-driven ro-ro ferry at Renfrew (River Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Renfrew - Yoker chain-driven ro-ro ferry at Renfrew (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles
Contributed image
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1453	LOUGH FOYLE (2009 < Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger IMO 7823310 : 75m overall of Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners - Londonderry, U.K)	Own Page
Dredger LOUGH FOYLE undergoing repairs and maintenance at Garvel Drydock, Greenock
Ship's location Garvel Drydock, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Londonderry (Northern Ireland, UK) Gross Tonnage 848
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1526	NENYA (in 2025 Yacht at Greenock)	Own Page
NENYA leaving James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Sailing for Sea Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Leaving James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1547	AFTER LIFE (in 2025 Motor Cruiser at Greenock)	Own Page
AFTER LIFE approaching James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Approaching James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Arrived from Sea
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1550	SD ORONSAY (2000- IMO 9201607 Naval Auxiliary passenger ferry 27m long)	Own Page
SD ORONSAY passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 199 Sailing for Serco Base, Great Harbour, Greenock Deadweght Tonnage 109
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1605	LADY A (Motor Cruiser at Greenock in 2024)	Own Page
Motor cruiser LADY A approaching James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock
Ship's location Approaching James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock Arrived from Sea
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1615	ENDURANCE (in 2023 Inshore creel fishing boat GW42 at Greenock)	Own Page
Creel Boat ENDURANCE heading for the Fishing Boat Quay, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Arrived from Fishing in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, August 14, 2025 @ 1630	ZEPHYR (in 2025 RIB = Rigid inflatable boat at Greenock)	Own Page
ZEPHYR (RIB = Rigid inflatable boat) approaching James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock
Arrived from Sea Sailing for James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock (Scotland, UK)

Latest Comments

This shows the 100 latest comments.

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AT PRINCE'S DOCK, GLASGOW  ... WHAT WAS WRC   

On 25 March 1966, RAVNEFJELL at 30 Prince's Dock, Glasgow loaded 2 lifts by WRC, total 48 tons 10 hundredweights.   What was WRC ?????

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E-mail from Nelson (Liverpool)        16 June 2024

 

   I am interested in your latest Clan Line item about CLAN ROSS at Birkenhead in 1958.

  Does anyone know the address of the Cayzer Irvine and Clan Line office in Liverpool in 1958 ?

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Any information please on 

   motor launch / cruiser PIONEER at Glasgow Riverside Museum

  and

  the unknown workboat at Govan Pontoon, Glasgow

these vessels may have been involved in the construction of the new Govan Bridge in January 2024.

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CLAN MACKINNON at New York in March 1954

  Yes, Clan Line's CLAN MACKINNON arrived in New York (USA) from London in March 1954.   This is well outwith the usual Clan Line trading areas.   Any suggestions as to why CLAN MACKINNON would be in New York  ?

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Harrison Line memories : the song Matilda by Harry Belafonte

 

Contributed by Jim (Birkenhead)  28 April 2024

 

I spent many enjoyable years with Harrison Line of Liverpool.

 

One of the memories when on the West Indies run was when in the Caribbean and in the ship’s crew mess or over the ship’s loudspeakers music was played.  

Harry Belafonte was always enjoyed, and when he sang Matilda, Coconut woman  and island in the sun all over the ship the crew would accompany him, singing out loudly, especially the word Matilda .   It it was amazing to hear everyone blasting out Matilda  at the top of their voices.

 

A few years after leaving Harrison’s I was at Bidston Dock and met an old shipmate from TACTICIAN and ADVENTURER.  He was walking his dog.  It’s name was Matilda.

 

A question for everyone, for something that has puzzled me was in Belafonte's song Matilda, who was Matilda and what was her story.    Does anyone know?

 

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AHMADU BELLO  (1963-1981) of Nigerian National Line

Contributed by J. (Engineer, London)  by e-mail 22 April 2024

   Does anyone remember AHMADU BELLO (1963-1981) a general cargo ship of Nigerian National Line : a frequent visitor to London, Birkenhead, Glasgow and Tees Dock.

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Walter Runciman / Moor Line’s CRAGMOOR

 

E-mail received 26 August 2022

I was staggered to read about Moor Line’s CRAGMOOR in your Latest Entries.   My father sailed in that ship in 1961-62.  Mostly a Newcastle and Sunderland crew.    Have you the details of those times.

 Name is not shown, by request.

 Douglas replies :    Yes, I’ve got the details from the Chief Officers Log Books.   There’s an awful lot in the books, maybe 100 large pages or so and masses of daily detail.   Let me know on CONTACT US what you actually want and I’ll see what can be done.  Thanks for your message.

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Does anyone remember Hogarth’s BARON FORBES which was

scrapped in 1953

and

Tracing a discharge book left aboard in 1959.

 E-mail 13 November 2020

From Murdo MacPherson

 Does anybody remember the rent boat BARON FORBES an old

ex-german ship the worst ship I sailed in she was scrapped

in 1953,  forecastle accommodation one trip was enough

The captain Mcphail was strict
ps I left my discharge book on an Everard ship in Goole

in 1959 got any ideas how I can trace it

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Isthmian Steamship Lines of USA

E-mail October 10  2020 

 From Bobby Ford  (USA)

Do you have anything about Isthmian Steamship Lines,

or anyone remember them, who did freighter service

from India and Far East in 1950 / 60’s.

   Any memories of the "STEEL" boats  ?

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What do you want (or not want) on this website ?

    It is the time of year to ask you, the readers, what you want  -  or

do not want  -  on this website.

    More of this, or less of that, or maybe something new ?

    Please let us know what you want, so that we can try to provide the material which is of interest to YOU.

    Also we are always interested in receiving material from our readers.   So, wherever you are in the world, how about sending

stories, images or items to put in the website ?

 Thank you.  11 August 2020

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Information needed on Cunard Line's ASCANIA (1911-1918)

10th August 2020    E-mail from a viewer. 

Cunard Lines ASCANIA  (1911-1918)

 I am wondering if you might have more information and pictures

on the Vessel Ascania - Shipping line Cunard 1911-1918

Master - SGS Mihal.

This is a ship that my grandfather travelled from Southampton,

England to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1914.

Please any information would help.

Thank You

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Where did the Royal Navy families from H.M.S.MAIDSTONE stay in Rothesay ?

Port of Registry Admiralty (Royal Navy, London)

Where did the Royal Navy families stay in Rothesay ?   E-mail 03 June 2020 from Helen G (Glasgow)      As a young girl in 1960s my parents and I often visited my aunt in Rothesay …(Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde,)    It was exciting to see a big Royal Navy ship, I remember her name was MAIDSTONE, and she was anchored in the bay.    There was always submarines about her and sailors in uniform in the town.    My aunt used to tell that some sailors and their families stayed in “Navy Houses” in Rothesay.   Does anyone know where the houses were ?  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Song about the Clyde and the musical band on Glasgow excursion steamers in 1950s / 60s

 

Email from Margaret Rose (nee Wilson)   May 31 2020 Montreal  

 

In the early 1960s my family emigrated from Scotland to Montreal(Canada).

   Dad always used to tell of sailing down the Clyde from

Glasgow on excursion steamers and there was a musical

band aboard which played Scottish tunes to entertain

passengers.

   A favourite song was something about the Clyde.   I know

it’s a long shot but does anyone know the name of the

song and the band ?

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Lightship ALBATROSS built at Robbs Shipyard, Leith in 1927

E-Mail from a viewer   31 May 2020

Hello- I wonder if anyone can please help. I am researching a lightship built at Robbs shipyard in 1927. Her name is Albatross and I believe she was built in yard 30. I would dearly love to see her build plans but I know that is a massive ask. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

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Cruise ships may be laid up in the Clyde

 

22 May 2020

1353

 

From Jimmy Johnston (Paisley)

 

   In the news they are talking about laying up idle cruise liners in the Clyde.   Where in the Clyde or even in Scotland could be good places to put these big ships.

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e-mail from Tommy Robertson   (Dumbarton)

21 May 2020

 

Elder Dempster / Blue Funnel ship scrapped at Dalmuir (Glasgow) around 1980

 

Does anyone know the name of the Alfred Holt Blue Funnel

ship that was scrapped at the Arnott Young yard at Dalmuir. 

  She was definitely a Blue Funnel job but had the Elder

Dempster buff funnel.

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Paddle Steamers at Pusser River, Chalna, Bangladesh

 

E-mail 23 March 2020 from N.L. of Cardiff, Wales

 

   I was looking at your item on the WAVERLEY which calls herself the “Last seagoing paddle steamer in the World.”

  It reminded me of the last time I was at Chalna (Pusser River, Bangladesh) in early 1980s where there were many largish paddle steamers about 300 feet (100 metres) long chugging around.  

   I never thought of what they were doing, maybe bringing the gangs of workers to the anchorage to load Jute (who remembers the biting Jute Flies) onto the ships, or maybe taking passengers to some place downriver.

   But these were big working paddle steamers.   Does anyone else remember them ?

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Why was Irish Lights Tender IERNE registered in Liverpool ?

 19 March 2020 @ 1057

J R of Birkenhead e-mails :

   I read your item about the IERNE, a lights tender owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Dublin, Ireland.  

   Why was she registered in Liverpool and not Dublin ? and what was her eventual fate ?

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Maclay and McIntyre of Glasgow ships DOMIRA and KASSANGA and a ship LYNFIELD of Stockton on Tees

A viewer e-mails 

   I am particularly looking for some information about a Glasgow Tramp Shipping Co called Maclay and Mc intyre and 2 ships of there's Domira sold 1919 and Kassanga bought 1911 sunk 1917. 

 Also a ship called Lynfield belonging to a shipping co called Field from Stockton on Tees 

Can anyone help ?

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Stewardesses and Nurse on Burns & Lairds IRISH COAST in 1966

 2019-12-29

By e-mail

Does anyone remember the Stewardesses (usually student school-teachers who were working during the summer holidays) and the Nurse who worked on Burns & Lairds IRISH COAST in 1966.

Mary D.

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Old Mississippi – type passenger steamer in Sydney (Australia)

Jim Middleton (London) e-mails

29 December 2019

 The BBC news today showed the wild fires at Sydney and the smoke at Sydney Harbour.

   I was surprised to see in the news report, in the background, an old Mississippi type passenger steamer, with two tall abreast funnels (stacks) passing under the Harbour Bridge.

   Can anyone give details of this vessel and its route and timetable ?

   Thanks, JM.

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CLAN FRASER and a rope across the dock at Glasgow

 4 November 2019

Jim McGoogan e-mails :

   Your article of CLAN FRASER of 8^th January 1964 says a rope was put across King George V Dock, Glasgow while the ship was making an engine trial.

   Why put a rope across the dock and where would the rope be attached to the ship and also attached to the dock ?

 

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Glasgow shipping line Maclay and Mcintyre and ship pictures of DOMIRA 2 and LYNFIELD.

A reader asks for any information on Glasgow shipping line Maclay and Mcintyre and ship pictures of DOMIRA 2 and LYNFIELD.    Can anyone help ? 14 September 2019 ====================================================================

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Where is the “Chapman Anchorage” ???

   Robbie Keen (Carlisle, England) emails:

 I see in the entry for BENWYVIS that she

was in “Chapman Anchorage.”   Where is

Chapman Anchorage and what would she

 be doing there ???

Robbie.  31 August 2019

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Teak fronts on the front of ship's bridges

By Eric S.     8th July 2019

Many cargo vessels and tankers built as late as the 1950s had

teak fronts to their bridges, even though the rest of their

superstructures was steel. Why was this so? Was the teak

front at these late dates merely a design feature, or an echo

of past practice, perhaps, or were there practical reasons?

All comments are welcome.

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Can anyone identify this cap badge ?

Samms of Nantwich e-mails:    07 July 2019

 I saw this officer’s cap at a flea market.   Can

 

anyone identify the cap badge ? 

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What shipping Companies served Calcutta, Chalna, Chittagong and Rangoon and what problems did the Monsoon rains and storms cause to the ships ?

By e-mail from R.S. (London)  2 July 2019

    There was a programme on television the other evening

about the Monsoon in the Bay of Bengal.   I was a North

Atlantic man and never ventured to the Far East.

   I wondered what difficulties would be experienced by

ships during the Monsoon season’s heavy rainfall and

swollen rivers and storms.

    And also, I can only think of maybe 3 shipping

companies which regularly traded to the area – Calcutta,

Chalna, Chittagong, Rangoon.   What other companies

were there ?

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Where did this ship come from in Sweden ???

Haltst…….. ?????

January 2020 and Bryn Wayt e-mails

A chap was asking where ship came from: the spelling was incorrect using Haltstwik on the 'docket'.

The origin of the ship must have been HALLSTAVIK in Sweden.

The place was/is famous for it paper-mill, hence the ships cargo bound for Belfast.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallstavik

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U.S. Navy supply ships calling at Fairlie (Firth of Clyde)

From Alan and Jean, (Fairlie, Firth of Clyde, Scotland)

20 May 2019  @ 1540

    We were very interested in your mention of U.S.S. YELLOWSTONE

at Tail-of-the Bank.

   It reminded us in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s when U.S. Navy

supply ships were common callers at the Navy jetty at Fairlie,

bringing stores for the Holy Loch vessels, and the stores

were taken from Fairlie to Holy Loch in the Ross & Marshall

lighters and small coasters.

   The U.S. ships were quite colourful (colorful) with their

grey hulls and their funnels (stacks) painted grey with yellow

and blue bands.

   Our favourite, her name began with M, not quite sure but

could be MARSHFIELD or MARSHLAND ….. or something like

that, was obviously a WW2 type but always immaculate

 and a frequent caller.

   Does anyone else remember these ships calling at

the Clyde ?

 

Alan and Jean.

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Clyde Navigation Trust launches NEWARK, GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS

 

 14 March 2019   @ 1239

Richard Danielson e-mails

 The Clyde Navigation Trust harbour launches: Newark, Garmoyle and Dunglass have had little written about them. 

I have a photo showing two of them (which two I cannot tell) giving a tow to the Duchess of Hamilton to help her turn at Bridge Wharf in 1969. 

Please ask anyone who knows about the work of the launches to get in touch with me by email.

THANK YOU.
Richard Danielson. 

 

Admin Note :

   For safety and security of our readers we do not normally show e-mail addresses.    Any reply to this interesting question should be made to our “CONTACT US” and we will forward the message to Richard.

 

20 March 2019  @ 1604

 

Jim Howie  (Partick, Glasgow)

 

   I am replying to Richard’s query about the small boats at Glasgow.

   Sorry to disappoint you Richard but there was a small but bulky booklet produced possibly about 50 years ago that described in great detail all the Clyde Navigation Trust / Clyde Port Authority vessels.   I did have a copy but it’s been lost.

  

In 1960’s the Clyde Trust / Authority had quite a few vessels.

6 Dredgers : CESSNOCK, CRAIGIEHALL, ELDERSLIE, LENNOX 11, ROSSLYN and SIR WILLIAM H. RAEBURN.

12 Hopper Barges.

1 Dumb grab hopper barge.

1 Tug CLYDE.

4 high-level Vehicular Ferryboats : FINNIESTON, GOVAN and WHITEINCH.  The remaining one was a spare in case of breakdowns.

3 chain-operated ferries : RENFREW and ERSKINE.  The remaining one was a spare in case of breakdowns.

11 passenger ferryboats.

1 60-ton floating crane NEWSHOT.

1 Diving Bell barge.

2 Divers’ motor boats.

1 Oil Separating Barge PLOVER

3 motor launches NEWARK, GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS.

1 Hydrographic Survey launch CRANNOG.

And a number of very small rope boats which were used in the docks and piers to bring the mooring ropes from ships to the pawls on the dockside.

 

I think CRANNOG did an awful lot of the surveying for the placement for both Finnart and Hunterston jetties.

And around mid 1990s NEWARK was fitted with an A-frame at the stern and spent a week in Ardrossan Harbour dragging the bottom of Eglinton Dock to clear all debris prior to the construction of the Marina in the dock.

   The motor launches normally berthed at the Trust / Authority workshops at Renfrew although at odd times they laid alongside the dredgers and hoppers in Queen’s Dock.

 

   If you would care to put the photograph on this site I have a friend who may be able to identify the boats in question.

 

Jim Howie.

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Looking for images / photos of BALLYGALLY HEAD of 1950s

 23 January 2019  1011

Joseph McGurk Jr. e-mails

Hi, I am looking for any photos of the tramp steam ship, BALLYGALLY HEAD, I think

there were two built, one in the late 1800s and the other in the mid 1950s

   I would appreciate if you could find any as it would make my father very happy as

he sailed on her

   Thank you, regards Joseph mc gurk jr

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Renfrew Harbour, Firth of Clyde, around 1980

    January 2019 : Robert Orr contributed this image of Clyde Navigation Trust / Clyde Port Authority HOPPER No. 25 at their wharf at their workshops at Renfrew Harbour around 1980.

 

   Does anyone have any idea what the other ships are ?

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The advert for paddle steamer EAGLE 111 in 1937

 6th  January 2019.

   James Barrowman (Brighton, England) e-mails :

I am an enthusiast for paddle steamers and read your item on EAGLE 111.

   The advertisement shows the ship departing from Glasgow (Bridge Wharf) s. s.

   Assuming that s.s. does not mean Steam Ship, can anyone help with what s.s. means ?

   Thanks, Jim Barrowman.

7^th January 2019 

   J.S. (Pollokshaws, Glasgow) replies :

The River Clyde runs generally east to west through

the centre of Glasgow and essentially divides the city

into two halves, the  “North Side” and the “South Side.”

   In the past and even today people talk of coming

from or living in the South Side.

   Up to around 1970’s passenger excursion steamers

and cross-channel to Ireland steamers left Broomielaw,

Anderston Quay and Lancefield Quay on the North Side

and in the summer months left Bridge Wharf on the

South Side (hence S.S.) on excursions “Doon the Watter”

= Down the Water = sailing down the River Clyde to

Clyde piers such as Dunoon and Rothesay and

Tighnabruaich.

   The advert mentions the steamer calling at Govan

 Wharf and Renfrew to pick up passengers.

   Today Govan Wharf is only recognisable by a derelict

and ruined few baulks of timber.   It was situated on the

South Bank essentially between the Govan Drydocks

(now also derelict) and the Bae Shipyard (formerly Fairfields

yard) and beside the playing field between Wanlock Street

and Dunvegan Street, Govan.   Up to the 1960s the

small Govan Passenger Ferry used to ply from near

Govan Wharf across the river to the east end of Meadowside

Quay

   It was news to me that excursion steamers stopped

at Renfrew.   I have no idea where the stop was located.

   Perhaps someone can help.

 

Ref The advert for paddle steamer EAGLE 111 in 1937.

12 January 2019   Robert Orr replies :

The steamer berth at Renfrew was on the river bank at 'The Green' in

Renfrew and as far as I'm aware was destroyed during the 'Clydebank

Blitz' in 1941, (this being air attacks on the town of Clydebank on the

opposite bank of the Clyde, home amongst other things to John Browns

shipyard). If you go to Google maps and search Clyde Street Renfrew

the bollards for mooring ropes are still visible at the edge of the Green.

The Scania Yard visible in street view was the start of the land

 

occupied by Simons and Lobnitz shipyards in Renfrew.

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Questions about Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line in 1960's

10 December 2018   Geoff in Australia e-mails :

I was on the Ulysses which traded between the Far East,mainly Indonesia and the East Coast and Gulf of the US.I understand it was a route which belonged to the Indra Line which Holts acquired in 1915. I believe that it may have been incorporated into a round the world service later.My time was during the late 50s and ended in 1960.

Crews during my time consisted of Europeans on deck and Chinese in the engine room, and catering,on ships trading from Liverpool. The Ulysses had Malays on deck and Chinese in the engine room,I cant remember who were the catering staff.

Gunung Djati was the name of the leading Javanese Haji and Islamic missionary.

 

With regards to crewing, the Dutch arm of Blue Funnel had all Chinese crews with Dutch officers, certainly in the 1950s.

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Ellerman’s CITY OF EXETER at Plymouth in 1958    

I was quite surprised to read that CITY OF EXETER called

at Plymouth in 1958.   Was Plymouth a normal call for Ellerman

African service passenger liners?

   Jim Hesketh, Liverpool 

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12 November 2018

 

TWEED, a 1959-built 112 foot water carrier of

Furness Withy, Port of Spain, Trinidad

 James R. (Avonmouth, England) e-mails :

    Looking at your list of ships I was surprised to see

TWEED of Furness Withy, a 112 foot water tanker at

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

   Anyone have information on this ship ?

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Can anyone name this British coaster ?

 

05 November 2018

Billy Fullarton writes :

  I took this photograph in 1970s or 1980s at Ardrossan

Harbour, Scotland.   Can anyone name this coaster. ?

 

   I think her name ends in SOUND.

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British & Irish KILKENNY in 1935

Does anyone have details of this ship in 1935 ???

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Ben Line carried a Naval tug from Trincomali to Gan ???

     I was with Brocklebank’s and sometimes called at

Gan Island in the Indian Ocean to discharge stores for

the RAF overside to landing craft in the lagoon.

   Talking to someone he said that he was on a Ben ship

which carried a small naval tug from Trincomali in

Ceylon to Gan, around late 1960s.

   Anyone know about this ?

    J.S., (Wallasey)

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Questions about Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line in 1960's

Jim J. of Liverpool e-mails :

   Around 1966 I was on a Royal Mail or Pacific Steam ship

in Houston / New Orleans area and saw an Alfred Holt Blue

Funnel ship there.

   Can anyone enlighten me as to why a Blue Funnel would

be in the Gulf of Mexico ?

   Also in conversation someone told of Blue Funnel having

Chinese crews on deck and catering.   I had always thought

that Blueys had British crews.   Someone please tell me

what is correct.

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Deck cadets Critchley and Doherty on RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965

 22 May 2018

 Alan Rutherford e-mails :

   Interested in whereabouts of other deck cadet officers Critchley and Doherty from RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965 ?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

  

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   Looking for information on some British ships around 1950-1954

 Ian Rae e-mails  ....  4 March 2018 @ 1221

 Great website.

I am trying to find information on some of the voyages my late brother -in-law made.
Blairdevon-this was his first trip, signed on 30 April paid off 12 June 1950.This was a fairly ancient coal burner.Dont know owner
Tahsinia-20Jun-13 Oct 1950-to Bombay
Saxon (?) Star-28 Sep -25 April 1952-(paid off Manchester)
Camerionia9 Jun to 10 Sep 1952
Empire Halladale-a troopship-23 Oct 1952 -paid off Birkenhead 22 Jan 1953
Retainer 6 Feb-31 Oct 1953-paid off Antwerp
Cortona 15 Dec 1953-19 Jan 1954

Thereafter he sailed out of London and latterly on Manchester Liners
When I tried your search the year 1951 was missing

Regards,
Ian Rae

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Can anyone identify this USN lapel badge ?

     Dominique and her husband from Lyons (France) were on vacation in Spain and bought this lapel badge in a street market in Tarragona (near Barcelona).

   Can anyone identify the badge ?

2018-02-18 @ 1320

 

19 May 2018

Hello Douglas,

It's Bryn (Wayt) here - you helped me with the Austerland cargo vessel last year. Thanks again.

This message is about the image of the USN "Anchor pin".
There are loads on eBay just type in "US Navy Petty Officer gold tie pin" 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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First ship was CHARLTON MIRA of Charlton Steam Shipping Company, London

Bill Steel e-mails

Charlton Mira was my first ship. Built in Sunderland at Bartram's yard. Doxford 670LB4 diesel oil engine. She had two scotch boilers and steam auxiliaries. Lovely vessel but would roll on wet grass.

17 February 2018 @ 2307

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 What is the difference between Agents / General Agents and Freight Brokers ?

    Jim Harrison  (Brighton, England) e-mails :

 I am using the India Steamship Company sailing notice as a simple example, but my question actually can also relate to many other shipping companies.

   The India Company shows that intending shippers can contact the U.K. General Agents Stelp & Leighton or the U.K. Freight Brokers J. H. Wackerbarth.

   My question is : what is the difference between using Agents / General Agents and Freight Brokers ?

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   German cargo ship MILLERNTOR in 1954

 

    In January 1954 the cargo ship MILLERNTOR, registered in Hamburg, 2,787 nett tons and Master T. Goldsweer, arrived at Ardrossan Harbour, Scotland, with a cargo of Iron Ore from Narvik (Norway).

 

   After unloading she left Ardrossan returning to Narvik.

 

Does anyone have any information or details of MILLERNTOR ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................

  

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" If sufficient inducement "

 James Bridges (Canterbury, England) e-mails –

   Many of your sailing notices show that a ship will go to a port “if sufficient inducement.”      What exactly is “if sufficient inducement ?”

“ If sufficient inducement “

 

23 January 2019 at 2113

 Geoff  (Australia)  e-mails :

 

James Bridges (Canterbury, England) e-mails –

 “Many of your sailing notices show that a ship will go to a port “if

sufficient inducement.” What exactly is “if sufficient inducement ? “

My understanding of "sufficient inducement" meant if there was

 enough cargo to be lifted to be commercially viable. ”

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Was she “ LAIRDS OAK “ or “ LAIRDSOAK ” ?

   Robert Bothwell (Glasgow) e-mails :

I have always had an affection for Burns & Laird Lines of Glasgow and refer to your entry of their coaster LAIRDS OAK in 1954.

   The Ships in Focus book shows her name as LAIRDSOAK but the accompanying photograph clearly shows the name LAIRDS OAK.

   I know it’s a bit pedantic but what was her name, LAIRDS OAK or was it LAIRDSOAK ?  

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Harbour oilers CLYDE ENTERPRISE and CLYDE VENTURE in late 1960’s

 

   Does anyone have details of these two oilers which were working in the Clyde in late 1960’s ?

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  

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Coaster BALLYCASTLE in 1953

 

In 1953 the coaster BALLYCASTLE of John Kelly, Belfast, was at Ardrossan Harbour loading a cargo of coke for Londonderry.   Does anyone have details of this ship ?

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   Carebeka's coaster RIAN in 1953

 

 In December 1953 the Carebeka’s Groningen registered coaster RIAN arrived at Ardrossan Harbour from Hamburg.

 

   The handwriting in the Harbour Log-book is not easy to read.   The master’s name could be Cloinga or Eloinga : can any Netherlands reader tell what the name is ?

 

   Also the cargo is shown as  “M of Potash” …. What is “M of Potash” ???

  

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Details needed of Van Nievelt, Goudriaan's ALPHERAT in 1954

When the Blue Star Line cargo ship PARAGUAY STAR was leaving Montevideo for Buenos Aires her docking bridge fouled the housed port anchor of the Dutch cargo ship ALPHERAT.

   The docking bridge sustained displaced and buckled bridge rails and started deck plank caulking.   Repairs at Buenos Aires cost 5,850 Argentinian Pesos.

   PARAGUAY STAR. a passenger and cargo liner of 10,722 gross tons, was on passage from Liverpool for Buenos Aires and ALPHERAT is a passenger and cargo ship of Rotterdam South America Line (Rotterdam-Zuid Amerika Lijn) and operated by Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co. Stoomvaart Maatschappij, Rotterdam.   ALPHERAT is well known for carrying Jewish emigrants from Rotterdam to South America.

Additional note :

Can anyone supply details of ALPHERAT ?

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Norwegian Tanker RAILA in 1953

 

   Does anyone have details of the Tanker RAILA, registered in Oslo, which was working around the British coast in 1953 ?

 

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Elder Dempster services from USA and Canada and Calcutta to Africa.

 Fred from Formby (Merseyside, England, writes

 

“ I was surprised to read in the Elder Dempster Lines entry of 27^th May 1957 that they did sailings from U.S.A. and Canada to West Africa, also Canada to South Africa and also Calcutta to West Africa.

 

Can someone tell something about these services ? ”

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CHANTALA  (Worcester Park, Surrey) writes :

British India Steam Navigation handbook for Hindustani for Navigating Officers and Deck Cadets

   In 1965 when joining BI as a Deck Cadet a necessary handbook was for issuing commands in the Hindustani Language.

   All I can remember now is “Asti aria kurro”

   Does anyone still have the book and can scan or photograph a few pages to show the commands ?

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Sailings from Glasgow Bridge Wharf in April, May and June 1968 to Rothesay and Tighnabruaich.

 

      Thank you so very much for putting in the sailings from Bridge Wharf in Glasgow that I asked for.   Anne G., Isle of Bute

  

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British Army Tank Landing Craft LCT 4086 and her base at Cairnryan in 1954

 

   Tank Landing Craft LCT 4086 of the British Army’s Royal Army Service Corps arrived at Ardrossan Dockyard in February 1954.   Anyone have details of this vessel and of her life and also details of her base at Cairnryan (which is near Stranraer in south-west Scotland)

  

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Anchor Line advertisement of 1871

    I did laugh on seeing the wonderful Handyside and Henderson address of their office in Londonderry as 96 ½ Foyle Street.

   If anyone is in Londonderry can they please, please take a photograph of that building and post it on this site.

Thank you.

Still laughing

Fred of Formby, Merseyside, England.

11 June 2018  Bryn Wayt replies that the building has been demolished and modern housing has been built on its site

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German cargo ship RUHR in 1953

 

  On 15^th December 1953 the German cargo ship RUHR, registered in Hamburg and 1,725 nett tons, Captain Ekelman, brought a cargo of scrap metal from Halifax (Canada) to Ardrossan Harbour.

 

   Has anyone got any details of this ship ?

 

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British coaster J B KEE in 1957

 

 Fred of Formby (Merseyside, England) writes :

 

   I have put in a short article about J B KEE making a distress call on 4^th November 1957.

 

   Anyone have details of this ship ?

 

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Which Donaldson Line ship collided with a Cunard Liner in 1960’s in Quebec or Montreal ?

 

 Bas Buma (Rotterdam) e-mails ….. translated by Google

 

   Does anyone remember in 1960’s when a Donaldson cargo ship collided with a Cunard passenger liner, maybe CARINTHIA or SYLVANIA at Quebec or Montreal?   My memory is not good now.

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At what time did Union Castle mailships leave South Africa for U.K. ?

 

 Jim Allbright (London) e-mails :

 

   I thoroughly enjoy reading your “Conducting their business in Great Waters” articles as they remind me of places and ships of long, long ago.

 

   Something which I have always pondered – Union Castle passenger liners left Southampton at 4pm on Thursdays for South Africa, --- but did they have a set time, say 4pm when sailing from, for example Cape Town or Durban, when returning to U.K. ?

 

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SUNBEAR of Saguenay Terminals.

 

   In 1962 Saguenay had chartered a general cargo ship named SUNBEAR.   Does anyone have details of this vessel ?

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Can anyone identify or help with a cargo ship AUSTERLAND around 1955-1960 ? === ship is now firmly believed to be AUSTRALIND 

Captain Bryn Wayt writes :

 My father fitted a T/V to a ship that visited the Clyde around the years 1955-60 and I accompanied my him to assist - I was young and have only a limited memory of the event.
The 'Master' invited us both to sail with him "around the world" - so my guess was it was a long-range merchant vessel. It was NOT a "liner" but more of an "ocean freighter".
The name that sticks in my limited memory bank is the "AUSTERLAND".
I've tried various sources to find her, but have not been successful.
I was born and bred in Glasgow, but I was not acquainted with the Dock in which the ship was anchored to narrow the search.
It was there for at least a week, as the "Master" visited my father's shop and asked for a T/V to be fitted in his vessel.
It took a little time to gather the required bits and bobs to accommodate the order that's why I say a week all told in dock.
Anybody who can give me a clue where to look would be thanked in customer fashion.

James Jeffries replies :

   I saw the message from Captain Wayt and I don’t know off-hand of AUSTERLAND but the name makes me think of AUSTRALIND of the Australind Steam Shipping Company / Bethell, Gwyn & Trinder Anderson & Company, London.

    AUSTRALIND was a 7,214 gross ton tramp cargo ship and was built in 1944 by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, for Australind,  and in 1959 was sold to Argus Steam Ship Company, Liberia and renamed PORTALON.

   In 1972 she was scrapped in Santander, Spain.

However it’s an interesting problem and I’ll start looking for an AUSTERLAND

 

Billy MacAulay (Moderator and Senior Member) writes :

   I have never heard of AUSTERLAND, but as Jim says AUSTRALIND is a possibility as Trinder Anderson vessels were visitors – though not too frequently – to Glasgow - and AUSTRALIND was in Govan Drydock, Glasgow around 1954.

   But I will also look for AUSTERLAND and being a cargo ship will search at Queen’s and Prince’s Docks and surroundings.   It will take some time as there is a lot to plough through.

  

 

  

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   Why was LADY McGOWAN IN Loch Riddon ?

 

 The small I.C.I. explosives carrying coaster LADY McGOWAN was in Loch Riddon on 29 November 1953.

 

   Loch Riddon is a small Loch situated near Tighnabruaich in the Kyles of Bute, a lonely and sparsely populated hilly area off the main area known as Firth of Clyde, Scotland.

 

   Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to the reason why LADY McGOWAN would be in this unusual locality ?

  

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John Kelly's coaster BALLYCLARE in late 1953.

   In our entries for this ship it is difficult to read the Master's name... possibly Capt. Crab.   Anyone know if this is correct ?

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Small boat sailor writes from Inverkip :

 

 

 

   I see that motor launches P.D.1 and 8641 passed King George V Dock, Glasgow in January 1967.   Their names vaguely ring a bell in my memory but I don’t remember anything about them.

 

   Does anyone know anything of these two launches ?

 

Just a guess could P.D.1 refer to the launch being the mooring rope boat in Prince’s Dock ?

 

   Sandy

  

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Mystery of CVC in Prince’s Dock area of Glasgow

   In 1958 the Clyde Shipping Company’s coaster PLADDA

 was listed as berthed in CVC in Prince’s Dock

 area in Glasgow.

   Does anyone know where CVC was ?

Jim Sloan replies : CVC was Clyde Vila Crane on the quay around berth 81 Plantation Quay, Glasgow

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Pacific Steam Navigation’s KENUTA at Puna in 1957

 

Tom Hayworth e-mails :

 

Your homepage shows KENUTA at Puna in 1957.   Where is Puna ?

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Ben Line’s Far-East coaster BENVEG in 1957

 

Leith Man e-mails

I was very surprised to see your entry for BENVEG in January 1957

for BENVEG as I had never heard of her.

 

Anyone have any more information please ?

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SPRINGFIELD QUAY, GLASGOW

Harry Cochrane e-mails :and conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.

For a good few years what was Springfield Quay in Glasgow has been redeveloped into an entertainment area with a cinema, hotel, casino and restaurants.   There was always a big sign at the entrance reading "SPRINGFIELD QUAY" but now the sign has been removed and replaced with a much smaller and more modern one saying "THE QUAY"

It's sad to have the last of the great Glasgow dockside quayside names disappear from public view.

aand conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.nd conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.

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MYSTERY SHIP PORTHOLE  From Michael Irwin (michaelj87836@gmail.com) When: 16 September 2016 15:09 Can show name?  Can show email?  Can show message?  I have a very short video posted on youtube of a porthole that I am trying to identify. It is more than likely WW1 era. Glass window is 14" in diameter and the entire assembly weighs 132 lbs. The name of the youtube video is Mystery Ship Porthole and I will leave a link. Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbgNppQ8XWM ............................................................................................................................................

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LASHERCIA ..... A Spanish coaster in 1962

   Does anyone have information on LASHERCIA which was trading around the Irish Sea and Liverpool in 1962 ?

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Clyde Navigation Trust launches GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS

Jim Allison writes : I see from arrivals and sailings that the Clyde Navigation Trust launches GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS were busy on the River, even in the middle of the night.  What was their occupation ?

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Carrickfergus (Northern Ireland) in January 1963.

From Sean R  (Larne, Northern Ireland)

   Thanks very much for showing the ships bringing explosives from Irvine to Carrickfergus in January 1963.   After 53 years I've now found out the two ships in the photographs, CASCADE the Dutch coaster and LADY ANSTRUTHER of ICI.    Sean R.

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   What do you want  (or don't want)  on this website  ?

   With new Administrators and Contributors now helping with this website, it is probably a good time to find out what you, the viewers, want to see and read about.

   So, what do you want -  or don't want  -  on this website ?   Should there be more of this  ....... or less of that   ....... or maybe something entirely new  ?

   Please use the "Contact us" button and tell the team in as much detail as possible so that we can try to provide items which are of interest to you.

   Thank you. 

 

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Netherlands coaster MADO in 1963

   In January 1963 the Groningen registered coaster MADO was at Irvine, Scotland, having arrived with a cargo of 200 tons of fertilizer from Rotterdam.   Does anyone have any information or details of this ship

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CARGOES FOR BEIRA BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT ONLY

I see from the sailing notices (such as in SYDNEY STAR) that cargoes for Beira in East Africa are often accepted by special arrangement only.  Why by special arrangement ?

  Charlie and Misty Fennelly, New Jersey. U.S.A.

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Holland America cargo ship DUIVENDYK

Holland America cargo ship DUIVENDYK was at Glasgow from August 27 1959 to September 2 1959 loading scrap metal for Japan.   Does anyone have any information about this vessel.

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Information needed on cargo ship KORBACH in 1958

 

KORBACH was closing for receiving cargo in Glasgow on 25 July 1958 and loading for the Great Lakes, Detroit and Chicago.    She was probably on a charter by Anchor Line or Head Line or Cunard Line.

 

Does anyone have any information on KORBACH ?

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“Conducting their business in Great Waters” series

Just to say how much we enjoy reading your “Conducting their business in Great Waters” series.   Really good to read of BENDORAN at Zamboanga and DURBAN CASTLE at St. Helena Island and British India’s KENYA at Zanzibar. And Misty appreciates the diary of Donaldson Line's LETITIA that you included for her.  This is the only website that brings the voyages to life.   Even the kids read it and are sure learning their world geography.   Charlie and Misty Fennelly,  New Jersey. U.S.A (Misty was born in Canada and her family were Pilots on Saint Lawrence)

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WHERE IS " PULO BOKOM "

On 5th January 1957 Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel CALCHAS was at Pulo Bokom.   It's not on Wikipedia.   Where is Pulo Bokom ?

"Hydatina" of Croydon, England, writes :

Pulau Bukom, also known as Pulau Bukum, is a small island belonging to Singapore that is located about five kilometres to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. The size of Pulau Bukom is about 1.45 km².   Royal Dutch Shell Group had a refinery there which I visited a number of times on Shell U.K. Tankers.

Note : The event for CALCHAS has been amended accordingly.

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A question about Alfred Holt and the King George V Dock in Glasgow

Jim Alison e-mails :   Your event of 25th August 1958 tells that Blue Funnel's PELEUS loaded a 6-ton lift by "Holt's crane".   Did Alfred Holt have a company crane at Glasgow, or could it be the ship's own derrick that was used. ?

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CLAN MACINTOSH and help needed on the origin of three launches loaded at Glasgow.

On 9th July 1958 CLAN MACINTOSH loaded 3 launches by her own gear at Glasgow.   The launches came from "Mechano / Medano.   Please have a look at the image, which has been enlarged, and see if you can throw some light on the launches.

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Scottish motor coaster PIBROCH built in 1956 by Scott & Sons of Bowling

Does anyone have details of her owners and employment after being sold by Scottish Malt Distillers Company ?

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CAN YOU HELP  The oilers "Invertest, Apexity and Clanity" are noted as daily supplying bunker fuel oil to vessels. Have you any images or information on these three ships. ? 

A. Manson replies: Apexity and Clanity were owned by F.T Everard later taken over by Fisher.

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CAN YOU HELP   Ore ships at General Terminus Quay .....when leaving, they left Terminus Quay astern.... where were they turned, to go downriver ahead.  Did they turn in Princes Dock...or at Yorkhill Basin...or at King George V Dock ?

  A. Manson replies "Ore carriers leaving General Terminus Quay were canted at Princes Dock ; the area inside the entrance was known as the Canting Basin."

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CAN YOU HELP   Glasgow fire-boat "St. Mungo"    Billy and Terry Kelly noted that Glasgow had a fire-boat named "St. Mungo" operated by Glasgow Fire Service, moored at Yorkhill Quay at the entrance to Queens Dock,  and crewed by firemen based in Yorkhill Fire Station (just across the road from Yorkhill Quay.)  Does anyone have a photograph of "St. Mungo" ?

A. Manson replies :Photographs and history the early and latter St. Mungo Fireboats can be seen by going on website "St. Mungo Fireboat"

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CAN YOU HELP    Blue funnel liner "Pyrrhus" is shown as arriving on 16th July 1958 (see the image) at berth 3 King George V Dock, head South, bow 5 1/2 ...something...into berth 4.   Any idea what the 5 1/2 something is ?

Ref. "Pyrrhus Berthing. The large timber or metal doors on the dockside of the cargo sheds are referred to as Blinds. There may six or seven of these so the bow or stern of a vessel may be sited in a position relative to the blinds.

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CAN YOU HELP   The coaster "Salling" arrived at KG5 on 16th July 1958 from " G.at ? " (see the image)  Can anyone hazard a guess what the place "G....at" is ?

A Manson replies "Destination of "Salling" could possibly have Ghent, Belgium."

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CAN YOU HELP.   Princes Dock logbook shows these vessels arriving, but the writing is hard to read.   Can you make out the names?

          

Click on these images to enlarge them

First is maybe.... Cruzeiro Do Sul

Below it is maybe.... Templar

Further down is maybe... Kaduna ...or Kadura

Further down maybe... La Manche

Just below that ......Barbanihalis (or something)

Still further down..... Prins W J or G Frerderick

And also on that page for 28th June at 2045 arrives "Somme" at berth 65 annexe.   I had never heard of "65 annexe"     Can anyone enlighten me? 

A Manson replies "berth 65 Plantation was an Annex abutting on the West end of Mavisbank Quay."    and Kaduna was owned by Paddy Henderson, vessels trading to Burma and associated areas.

Prinz Willem 1V and Prinz W J Fredrick were owned by Dutch Company Oranje Lijn and traded to, and spent some time in the Great Lakes.

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CAN YOU HELP   What is the name of this ship?  Is it Sunnarhav or Sunnanhav.  She arrived in Glasgow on 6th July 1965.  Just to allow continuity of entering details, the ship is listed in events as being "Sunnanhav" unless otherwise corrected.

A Manson replies : "Sunnanhan" could possibly have been owned by Saguenay Terminals who prefixed several of their ships names by "Sun"

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CAN YOU HELP   The vessel "Mango" or "Manyo" arrived at Princes Dock from Ardrossan on 14th July 1965, draft 5' 10" forard and 12' 8" aft, which would be the draft of a coaster.  But the logbook shows her sailing on 18th July for Three Rivers (Canada) draft forard 17' 07" and aft 19' 06"   Any thoughts or information on this vessel would be welcome. 

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THANKS FOR THE MEMORY   Mrs  Margaret Buckner e-mails from Canada.

"I was browsing and chanced on your website, and was astonished to discover mention of the Donaldson ships taking passengers from Princes Dock to Montreal.   I was a little girl in 1960 when my folks emigrated from Kirkintilloch to Canada on Laurentia, and it was a very rough crossing, but was calm when we passed Newfoundland.  The mention of "Laurentia" brought the memories flooding back, having been forgotten for 50 years. Thanks for bringing back the memory.

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CAN YOU HELP   : This interesting little advert was in the 23rd June 1906 issue of "Largs and Millport Weekly News"   Note the early start for the days sailing, and the unusual name "Bute 4"     Any information on the firm or the vessels?   Click on the image to enlarge it to full size.

     

A Manson replies: For full history on SS Bute suggest Logging on" SS Bute at Greenock" With information regarding builders of same and SS Kyle then follow Princess Alice Disaster where all will be revealed re ultimate fate of Vessel. 

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CAN YOU HELP  : The vessel "Cedric" arrived at KG5 on 10th October 1967. It's difficult to decipher where she came from.  Any suggestions?  Click on the image to enlarge it.

A Manson writes : 
The "Cedric" which arrived at KG5 dock 10th October 1967 would have come from Napier, New Zealand, where she would have loaded refrigerated cargo, e.g. lamb, butter, etc. This was a regular run for vessels belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company.

A Manson writes :

Ref. the "Cedric" The port referred to is Napier New Zealand.

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CAN YOU HELP   This vessel "Stern" or "Stein" arrived KG5.   Is the name "Stern" or "Stein"    Click on the image to enlarge it.

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CAN YOU HELP   : What is the name of this 1967 arrival.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

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CAN YOU HELP  : Falcon Reefer arrived from USA and Newfoundland.   Which was the USA port concerned?   Click on the image to enlarge it.

A MANSON replies: Gloucester Massachusetts USA is on of America's oldest Ports.

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CAN YOU HELP  : Harrison's "Statesman" in Jan 1968 at Shieldhall Riverside Quay conducted an engine test.   What is the word after the test.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

A Manson writes :

Ref. the engine test on "Statesman" at Riverside Shieldhall . The engines would have been run on slow speed. Vessels having such must be securely moored probably with insurance wires as an added precaution .

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