Ardrossan Harbour figures for year 1971

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 11th February 1972

The total number of arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour last year was 2,928, of which 141 came from foreign ports.
The total tonnage of vessels was 2,049,276 tons while cargo handled at the harbour totalled 1,422,578 tons.
Oil was the biggest import, amounting to 634,599 tons, and the biggest export was steel.

Hovercraft visits Lamlash Bay

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 18th February 1972

LAMLASH

On Saturday morning a hovercraft appeared in Lamlash Bay, proceeded to Cordon shore, then outward and across to Holy Island, before sailing off again.
It was fairly noisy and at first people looked skywards for a helicopter, before sighting the craft in the water.

Coaster "Saint Bridget" blown up after her cargo of explosives leaked

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 18th February 1972

ARDEER CARGO BLOWN UP

A coasting vessel, "Saint Bridget," carrying a cargo of high explosive which had been loaded at ICI, Ardeer, had to be blown up forty miles south of Cornwall on Monday after part of the cargo leaked.

The "Saint Bridget" had loaded nitroglycerine-based explosive at Ardeer last week and sailed to Falmouth where her cargo was being transferred to a larger ship destined for Hong Kong.
When dockers became affected by fumes it was discovered that part of the cargo had leaked on to the docks.

Government and ICI experts decided that the only solution was to blow up the now dangerous "Saint Bridget" - if she had been merely scuttled, the explosive in her hold could have caused serious pollution in the sea.

A spokesman for the company said that ICI would compensate the ship's owners for their loss.

Note : Colin Matthews e-mails that the explosives were being transhipped into the Blue Funnel vessel "Autolycus."

Blue Funnel's AUTOLYCUS was loading explosives from the coaster SAINT BRIDGET

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 18th February 1972

ARDEER CARGO BLOWN UP

A coasting vessel, SAINT BRIDGET carrying a cargo of high explosive which had been loaded at ICI, Ardeer, had to be blown up forty miles south of Cornwall on Monday after part of the cargo leaked.

The SAINT BRIDGET had loaded nitroglycerine-based explosive at Ardeer last week and sailed to Falmouth where her cargo was being transferred to a larger ship destined for Hong Kong.    When dockers became affected by fumes it was discovered that part of the cargo had leaked on to the decks.

Government and ICI experts decided that the only solution was to blow up the now dangerous SAINT BRIDGET - if she had been merely scuttled, the explosive in her hold could have caused serious pollution in the sea.

A spokesman for the company said that ICI would compensate the ship's owners for their loss.

Note : Colin Matthews e-mails that the explosives were being transhipped into the Blue Funnel vessel AUTOLYCUS

Gardner's coaster SAINT BRIDGET blown up off Falmouth (England)

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 18th February 1972

ARDEER CARGO BLOWN UP

A coasting vessel, SAINT BRIDGET carrying a cargo of high explosive which had been loaded at ICI, Ardeer, had to be blown up forty miles south of Cornwall on Monday after part of the cargo leaked

 The SAINT BRIDGET had loaded nitroglycerine-based explosive at Ardeer last week and sailed to Falmouth where her cargo was being transferred to a larger ship destined for Hong Kong.

When dockers became affected by fumes it was discovered that part of the cargo had leaked on to the decks.

Government and ICI experts decided that the only solution was to blow up the now dangerous SAINT BRIDGET - if she had been merely scuttled, the explosive in her hold could have caused serious pollution in the sea.

A spokesman for the company said that ICI would compensate the ship's owners for their loss.

Note : Colin Matthews e-mails that the explosives were being transhipped into the Blue Funnel vessel AUTOLYCUS

Port Report dated Friday 18th February 1972

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 18th February 1972

There were 52 arrivals at Ardrossan harbour last week, three of which were tankers. The "Ameland" was the largest tanker, from Dublin with spirit.
Last Saturday the "Hoan" brought a cargo of fishmeal from Fasnavaig, Norway.

Modifications made to the Ardrossan - Arran car ferry "Caledonia"

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 18th February 1972

ARRAN FERRY HAS BEEN MODIFIED

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company's Arran car ferry M.V. "Caledonia," which has been off the Ardrossan - Brodick service since January 5, is expected to resume service next week.

"Caledonia" has been in dry-dock at Scott's Yard, Greenock, for her annual overhaul and to have some interior modifications carried out.
While she was out of service the MacBrayne ferry "Iona" operated on the Arran run.
The interior modifications have been made with a view to improving passenger circulation on the ship and to lessen congestion in the entrance hall area where passengers congregate on boarding and leaving the vessel.

A spokesman for the CSP Company said : "Part of the ship's galley has been moved and we have also moved the shop near to the entrance of the lounge"

"Caledonia" was expected to leave Scott's yesterday morning (Thursday).

"Iona" deputises on Ardrossan - Brodick run

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 18th February 1972

ARRAN FERRY HAS BEEN MODIFIED

The Caledonian Steam Packet Company's Arran car ferry M.V. "Caledonia," which has been off the Ardrossan - Brodick service since January 5, is expected to resume service next week.

"Caledonia" has been in dry-dock at Scott's Yard, Greenock, for her annual overhaul and to have some interior modifications carried out.
While she was out of service the MacBrayne ferry "Iona" operated on the Arran run.
The interior modifications have been made with a view to improving passenger circulation on the ship and to lessen congestion in the entrance hall area where passengers congregate on boarding and leaving the vessel.

A spokesman for the CSP Company said : "Part of the ship's galley has been moved and we have also moved the shop near to the entrance of the lounge"

"Caledonia" was expected to leave Scott's yesterday morning (Thursday).

Passengers on "Caledonia" see a Naval air-sea rescue exercise.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 25th February 1972

During the past week Navy helicopters have been practicing air-sea rescue techniques in the Firth of Clyde.
On Monday passengers on the Arran car ferry "Caledonia" had a clear view of a naval exercise as a man was winched from the sea on to a helicopter.

Port report dated Friday 25th February 1972

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 25thFebruary 1972

There have been 49 arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour this week, three of which were tankers.
The biggest of these was the "British Reliance" from Stanlow with fuel oil.
The "Inalotte Blumentahl" loaded a cargo of rails and sailed for Lobito.
The Ardrossan - Arran ferry, mv "Caledonia," resumed service on Friday after the annual overhaul.

Hoax bomb alert at the Shell-BP depot in Adrossan

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 3rd March 1972

ANOTHER BOMB HOAX

Emergency services were put on stand-by and householders in North Crescent, Ardrossan, were evacuated from their homes last Friday night when it was suspected that a bomb had been planted on a tank in the Shell-BP depot.

Shortly after 9pm a call was received to the effect that a bomb had been planted on a high-propane tank in the depot.

The fire services were alerted and Ayrshire Police task force moved in and searched the depot, but nothing was found.
On saturday morning Saltcoats Police carried out a further search of the depot but nothing was discovered.

MP's questions on Hunterston

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 3rd March 1972

MP'S QUESTIONS ON HUNTERSTON

In the House of Commons last week Mr. David Lambie, MP for Central Ayrshire, asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he had made of the global sum necessary for the provision of the iron ore terminal at Hunterston.

Mr. Gordon Campbell replied that this was a matter for the British Steel Corporation, which had announced the cost as ?26 million.
Mr. Lambie said that if the Hunterston terminal was to go ahead the money must be supplied by the Government, directly or indirectly. He asked Mr. Campbell for an assurance that the Government would provide the necessary finance to give the necessary boost to the Scottish economy.

Mr. Campbell said he had given Mr. Lambie the estimate for which he had asked. The project formed part of the BSC capital investment programme for which the Government made loans available in the normal way.
The Clyde Port Authority had not, so far, made an application to the Department of the Environment for approval of loan assistance for its share of the project.

Sir Fitzroy Maclean, MP for Bute and North Ayrshire, asked Mr. Campbell what would be the extent of the terminal and the connected installations and would he see that everything possible was done to preserve the amenities of the area.

Mr. Campbell said he could not, in a short reply, tell the extent of the new installation but he assured Sir Fitzroy that it was his intention, as the Minister responsible for the environment in Scotland, to do all he could to protect environment while encouraging desirable industrial development.

Withdrawal of the steamer service between Fairlie and Tarbert

From ?The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald? dated Friday 3rd March 1972

FAIRLIE

Ayr County Council are to inform the Caledonian Steam Packet Company that they regret the withdrawal of the steamer service between Fairlie pier and Tarbert and they consider the poor patronage, which was the reason given by the company for withdrawal of the service, was caused by inadequate publicity and high fares.

Junior Museum Association visits Ardrossan Harbour

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 10th March 1972

Despite the cancellation of an arranged visit to a ship, the members of North Ayrshire Junior Museum Association had an interesting time at Ardrossan Harbour last Saturday.

Stolen car at Ardrossan Harbour thought to contain explosives

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 10th March 1972

A car which had been stolen in Glasgow was found at Ardrossan Harbour on Tuesday.
The car was thought to contain explosives and a bomb disposal unit from Edinburgh were called to check it.
Part of the harbour was cordoned off during the investigation but no explosives were found.