IRISH SPRUCE arrives at Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow with Soya Beans from Baltimore (U.S.A,)

LAIRDSCREST arrives in Glasgow with Irish cattle

Headlam's SNEATON at 10 King George V Dock, Glasgow bunkers 150 tons fuel oil from CLANITY

CLANITY bunkers Headlam's SNEATON at 10 King George V Dock, Glasgow with 150 tons fuel oil

Suggestion that Clyde Steamer fleet be subsidised

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 24th July 1964

SHOULD CLYDE FLEET BE SUBSIDISED ?

Suggestion at Inquiry

A suggestion that the Government should consider subsidising the Clyde steamer services which the Caledonian Steam Packet Company are unable to operate economically was made last Thursday in Glasgow by Mr. R.S. Johnston, Q.C.

Mr. Johnston was appearing for Glasgow Corporation and for a number of county, town and district councils in the Firth of Clyde area at a sitting of the Transport User's Consultative Committee.

OBJECTIONS

The committee, under Sir John Greig Dunbar, were hearing objections to the proposal of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company to withdraw steamer services between Gourock and Kilcreggan, Blairmore, and Hunter's Quay throughout the year, and services between Gourock and Craigendoran in the winter.

Mr. Johnston suggested that "if the Caledonian Steam Packet Company are unable to operate their services economically, then, having regard to the importance of the tourist industry, this is a matter which ought to be considered by the Government for subsidy in accordance with the provisions applicable to other parts of Scotland."

Objections were also heard to proposals by the company to withdraw daily excursion sailings from Ayr and Troon (with the exception of Friday sailings) and to reduce sailings between Gourock, Lochranza, and Campbeltown, between Gourock and Inverary, and between Glasgow (Bridge Wharf) and Tighnabruaich.

In reply to Mr. John H. McCluskey, advocate, who appeared for the burgh of Cove and Kilcreggan, Mr. A. Stewart, general manager of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, said that the steamer services made a loss of ?43,000 in 1963.

M.P.'s VIEWS

On the proposed withdrawal of excursion sailings Mr. A. C. Manuel, M.P. for Central Ayrshire, said this would have a serious effect on local economy.
Substantial hardship would result because of the importance of the tourist and holiday industries. The rail facilities meant a very roundabout journey and many people would be forced to go by road, where there were already far too many accidents because of congestion.

Mr. Donald A. McIntyre, Port Bannatyne, a member of Bute County Council, spoke of the need to improve pierhead car parks. The local authorities felt, he said, that if the Caledonian Steam Packet Company made provision for car parking the crowds would return to the steamers to get off the roads for a spell. There was an earnest desire by many people to sail, but they had the utmost difficulty in finding car-parking space at pierheads.

Mr. Stewart said they had 12 ships lying idle every winter, a situation which was "quite criminal." They were endeavouring to rationalise their services and they felt they were doing this in a modest way.

When a member of the committee described the steamer fares as "fantastically cheap" and asked why they were not increased, Mr. Stewart replied : "Whenever we have attempted to put up fares on the Clyde we have run into the greatest of storms."

Coaster ZUIDERZEE leaves King George V Dock, Glasgow for Rothesay Dock, Clydebank

Lykes Line's TYSON LYKES arrives in Glasgow from New Orleans via Dublin

Dutch coaster JOMA arrives in Glasgow with a cargo of wheat from Rouen (France)

Headlam's SNEATON leaves King George V Dock, Glasgow for South Shields (England)

Port Report dated Friday 17th July 1964

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 17th July 1964

Sixty-seven vessels, six of them tankers, docked at Ardrossan Harbour during the week ended last Saturday.
Among the tankers was the British ship "Hyala," from Puerto Miranda, which discharged a cargo of crude oil.

Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel THESEUS shifts from Elderslie Drydock to 1 King George V Dock, Glasgow

 The 489-feet long Alfred Holt’s Blue Funnel cargo liner

THESEUS arrived at berth 1 King George V Dock, Glasgow,

with her head South, at 1315 on 13^th July 1964.

   She had come from Adelaide and Albany (both in

Australia) via Liverpool with a general cargo, and her

draught forward was 15’ 06” and aft 21’ 07”

   Renfrew Stevedore Company started unloading

on 13^th July and completed discharge at 1930 on

23^rd July.

   At 1645 on 15^th July THESEUS, still carrying part

of her inward general cargo,  shifted a short distance

downriver to the nearby Elderslie Drydock for normal

hull maintainance, and she undocked on 17^th July,

returning to berth 1 King George V Dock at 1715.

   She commenced loading 1,200 tons of general

cargo at 0800 on 18^th July and finished loading at

1400 on 24^th July.

   THESEUS, drawing 14’ 04” forward and 19’ 08”

aft, let go her moorings at 2008 on 24^th July, and

left Glasgow for Bremen (Germany) and Melbourne

(Australia)

German coaster RUDOLF KARSTENS arrives in Glasgow with Steel Slabs from Port Talbot

Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF CANADA passing Cloch Lighthouse, Firth of Clyde

Courtesy Billy Fullarton from his collection