Construction of the Erskine Bridge in 1970’s

A youtube film about the construction of the Erskine Bridge, near Glasgow, around 1970.

Construction of the Erskine Bridge in 1970’s

   In the early 1970’s a very large road bridge was constructed to span the River Clyde, joining the County of Dunbartonshire on the north bank and the County of Renfrewshire on the south bank.   It is called "The Erskine Bridge"

   A 22 minute long professionally made film, in colour, recorded the construction of the bridge, and also the surrounding areas and businesses and, shows the shipping and river traffic on the Clyde.

   Yes, being produced in 1970 the film is quite dated, but, nevertheless, is well worth watching.

   You will find it on Youtube 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dytx7z1yEg

Steam Bucket Dredger CESSNOCK starts dredging from River Wall at Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, Glasgow

Oil slick off Little Cumbrae was a false alarm

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 14th May 1971

OIL SLICK WAS FALSE ALARM

What had the appearance of a fairly large oil slick in the sea seven miles south west of Largs was reported by the pilot of an airliner coming in to land at Prestwick last Friday afternoon.

Fortunately it proved a false alarm - the slick was discovered to be a patch of scum which was fairly soon dispersed by the normal motion of the waves.

The Coastguard have had to investigate some half dozen similar reports in recent months, and they are of opinion that the scum patches may emanate from the dumping of sludge from Glasgow on the sea bed south of Garroch Head.
This practice has been carried on for many years without apparent detriment to the waters or seashore of the Firth of Clyde, but the recent alarms are obviously due to the growing public awareness of the increasing dangers of pollution generally, and the incidents of oil affecting beaches in the south of England which were widely publicised.

When the dumping of the Glasgow sludge was criticised in a national Sunday newspaper, West Kilbride District Council sought assurance from the responsible authorities that the practice did not lead to adverse effects upon marine life or pollution of beaches in the area, and as reported last week they were informed that no evidence has been found of any detrimental effect.

Blue Funnel's CENTAUR on passage from Singapore to Fremantle : ticket, menus and certificates

Port Report dated Friday 14th May 1971

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 14th May 1971

There have been 47 arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour this week, two of which were small tankers.
Both the Brilliant from Halden and the Langstedt from Sundsvaad arrived with cargoes of wood pulp.

New Stena Line freight ferry for the Stranraer/Larne route

From "The Ardrosan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 14th May 1971

NEW FREIGHT FERRY FOR IRISH RUN

A new type of roll-on roll-off ferry, unique in British waters, will come into service on the Stranraer/Larne route early next month when a three-deck ferry will carry commercial traffic.

The new ship is coming to Stranraer on charter from the Stena Line of Gothenburg to cope with the rapidly increasing demand on the route by commercial users.

"Last year the "Baltic Ferry," with a capacity of 18 commercial vehicles, was chartered to meet the increasing need for shipping space but she is proving too small to handle the traffic."

The Stena Line ship, launched in Norway earlier this year, can carry 45 large commercial vehicles on two decks and 70 trade cars on a third deck. The main car deck, with a headroom of 19 feet, can accommodate 30 commercial vehicles and a further 15 are carried on the top deck served by a hydraulic lift on the main deck, like that on an aircraft carrier.
A bow and stern loader, the 1600 ton ship is 350 feet long, has a 55 feet beam, a draught of 12 feet and a service speed of 17 knots.

There are passenger facilities, including catering, for a limited number of drivers.
Private cars and passengers will not be carried on the service.

Port Report dated Friday 21st May 1971

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 21st May 1971

There have been 54 arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour this week, eight of which were tankers.
Two of the bigger tankers were the "Mantua" from Avonmouth with spirit and the "British Reliance" from Finnart with fuel oil.
On Tuesday the "Ali Damhof" arived from El Ferrol in Spain with steel and another interesting arrival was the "Kostandis Fotinos" from Lisbon with a general cargo.
The "Thekla" loaded scrap and sailed for Dordrecht and the "Keyser" went to Bilbao with steel and steel coils.

A historic visitor to Ardrossan on Tuesday night was the "King George V," the 45-year old steamer which took a train load of Newcastle women to Arran, had never been to Ardrossan before.

Queen Mary 11 modernised

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 21st May 1971

QM11 MODERNISED

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company's pleasure cruise ship "Queen Mary 11" has just come back into service after being extensively modernised.

On the promenade deck the ship's passenger lounge has been completely redecorated and refurnished. The main dining room has been converted into a modern cafeteria and the old cafeteria on the main deck has been changed into a modern bar which will be called the "Firth Lounge" - a change from the traditional Clyde steamer bar below decks where father used to go to "inspect the engines."
Below the new cafeteria a new dining room has been created and named "Queens's Restaurant."
These new style facilities have created an intimate atmosphere where passengers can enjoy a meal and a drink at their leisure.

Man and girl rescued from dinghy at Arran

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 28th May 1971

MAN AND GIRL RESCUED FROM DINGHY

Arran residents were awakened in the early hours of Monday morning when a Glasgow man and his 12-year-old daughter were pulled to safety at a cove between Corrie and Brodick after drifting for about 12 hours in the Firth of Clyde.

An hour before dawn, Mr. Robert Brown, aged 59, who owns the Pirate's Cove restaurant between Brodick and Corrie, heard cries for help from a dinghy drifting towards the shore.
He wakened his son, Robert, aged 24, and a friend, Mr. Gordon Johnstone, aged 22, from Glasgow.
He then drove his car to the shore and switched on the headlights, while the two young men waded into the water and pulled the man and child ashore.

The man was Mr. Alfredo Parducci, aged 37, of 45 Clifford Street, Ibrox, and with him was his daughter Armanda.
They were taken to the War Memorial Hospital, Arran, where they were treated for exposure, shock and exhaustion, and were put under sedation.

Mr. Parducci and Armanda had gone to Seamill to try out the lightweight dinghy he bought last Friday.
The dinghy was caught in a stiff wind and blown out to sea, and father and daughter waved clothing and shouted for help as the boat drifted in the misty conditions.

A holiday couple saw them and an intensive search of the Firth began.
Largs inshore rescue boat and Troon lifeboat were called out but the search was called off when darkness fell.

During the all-night ordeal, Mr. Parducci, who is an engineer fitter, struggled to stay awake as he rowed to keep the dinghy heading into the swell and drank sea water to keep himself from collapsing.
He tied his daughter to the bottom of the dinghy to prevent her being thrown out.

Man and girl rescued from dinghy at Arran

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 28th May 1971

MAN AND GIRL RESCUED FROM DINGHY

Arran residents were awakened in the early hours of Monday morning when a Glasgow man and his 12-year-old daughter were pulled to safety at a cove between Corrie and Brodick after drifting for about 12 hours in the Firth of Clyde.

An hour before dawn, Mr. Robert Brown, aged 59, who owns the Pirate's Cove restaurant between Brodick and Corrie, heard cries for help from a dinghy drifting towards the shore.
He wakened his son, Robert, aged 24, and a friend, Mr. Gordon Johnstone, aged 22, from Glasgow.
He then drove his car to the shore and switched on the headlights, while the two young men waded into the water and pulled the man and child ashore.

The man was Mr. Alfredo Parducci, aged 37, of 45 Clifford Street, Ibrox, and with him was his daughter Armanda.
They were taken to the War Memorial Hospital, Arran, where they were treated for exposure, shock and exhaustion, and were put under sedation.

Mr. Parducci and Armanda had gone to Seamill to try out the lightweight dinghy he bought last Friday.
The dinghy was caught in a stiff wind and blown out to sea, and father and daughter waved clothing and shouted for help as the boat drifted in the misty conditions.

A holiday couple saw them and an intensive search of the Firth began.
Largs inshore rescue boat and Troon lifeboat were called out but the search was called off when darkness fell.

During the all-night ordeal, Mr. Parducci, who is an engineer fitter, struggled to stay awake as he rowed to keep the dinghy heading into the swell and drank sea water to keep himself from collapsing.
He tied his daughter to the bottom of the dinghy to prevent her being thrown out.

Ardrossan man Peter Robert Boylan dies in accident on tanker "British Signal"

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 28th May 1971.

Ardrossan man dies in ship accident

A 31-year-old Ardrossan man, Mr. Peter Ronald Boylan, was killed in a fatal accident on board the tanker mv British Signal on Tuesday when it was in the English Channel on a trip to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Mr. Boylan, who lived at 56 Elm Park, was employed as a mechanical fitter with one of the mobile work forces operated by Ardrossan engineering contractors William McCrindle & Son Ltd. when the accident occurred.

He is survived by a wife and two young children.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 4th June 1971.

Ardrossan Harbour had 66 arrivals during last week, including four small tankers.
Last Thursday the "Queen Mary 11" took retired ICI employees on a cruise from Ardrossan.
On Friday, "Majorca" left for Bilbao, Spain, with a cargo of steel.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 4th June 1971.

Ardrossan Harbour had 66 arrivals during last week, including four small tankers.
Last Thursday the "Queen Mary 11" took retired ICI employees on a cruise from Ardrossan.
On Friday, "Majorca" left for Bilbao, Spain, with a cargo of steel.

Boy discovers a live grenade at Brodick Pier

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 4th June, 1971

A live Mills grenade was found at Brodick Pier on Tuesday by a 10-year-old boy, Roderick Shannon, of Bishopbriggs.
A bomb disposal squad from Faslane, who discovered that the grenade was in a bad condition, safely exploded it.

Coaster WARLIGHT used as a workboat at Hartlepool in 1971/1972

An e-mail from Brian Parr received 3rd March 2017 about the coaster WARLIGHT

HI DOUGLAS,, RE THE PUFFER " WARLIGHT "

in 1971 /72 .I WORKED FOR TAYLOR WOODROW CONSTRUCTION ..WE WERE DOING A DIVING JOB AT HARTLEPOOL POWER STATION ..WE AQUIRED "WARLIGHT" AT MIDDLESBOROUGH ,,AND CONVERTED HER TO USE AS A DIVEBOAT ON THE COOLING WATER OUTFALL PROJECT ..THE SPACIOUS HOLD WAS IDEAL TO ACCOMODATE THE LARGE COMPRESSORS AND OTHER NECESSARY EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY THE DIVING SUBCONTRACTORS .[ FOX DIVING CO GLASGOW ] A 10 FT 7 TON CRANE BOWSPRIT WAS CONSTRUCTED OVER THE BOW TO HANDLE THE HEAVY SECTIONS REQUIRED IN THE SUBSEA CONSTRUCTION..WE OPERATED FROM HARTLEPOOL OLD TOWN FISHQUAY [WORKING IN OPEN SEA OFF ,,SEATON CAREW ] MYSELF AND THE DIVING CREW LIVED ON THE WARLIGHT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ...WHEN WE COMPLETED THE CONTRACT AND STRIPPED OUR EQUIPMENT ..I THINK WARLIGHT WAS TAKEN TO BE SCRAPPED AT MIDDLESBOROUGH ..NOT SURE..I AM NOW 82 YRS OLD BUT I REMEMBER MY TIME WITH THE WARLIGHT WITH A LOT OF AFFECTION ..HOPING THIS LITTLE ANECDOTE IS OF INTEREST TO YOU ,,FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ..BRIAN ..PS ..LOVE THE WEBSITE..GOOD LUCK