From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated Friday 7th April 1972

CHINESE VISIT ?VICKERS VENTURER?

The research ship ?VICKERS VENTURER?, which is based in Ardrossan Harbour, did her small bit to improve East/West relations on Thursday when she was host to a party of six visiting Chinese scientists who had come to this country to study geophysical and oceanographic work.

The five man delegation from the Chinese People?s Republic were led by Mr Wang T Chao a professor geophysics and oceanography from Peking and they were accompanied by an interpreter from the Chinese Embassy in London

Last week the party had visited ?OCEANOLOGY 72? an oceanographic exhibition held in Brighton and while there they expressed an interest in the work carried out by the ?VICKERS VENTURER? and the mini submarine, ?PISCES?, which the ship is specially adapted to carry.

HIGHLIGHT

The party travelled up to Ardrossan and spent the entire day studying the various research processes and methods used on the ship, and on ?PISCES?, and a highlight of the tour of the ship was the lowering of the ?PISCES? into the harbour partially to submerge, with Professor Chao and the pilot in charge, Ralph
Eastbough, on board her.

The ?VENTURER? herself is a former stern trawler and she was specially converted by Vickers, the well known Naval ship builders, to carry out research work with a mini sub on board.

She is commanded by Captain Robert Brown, of West Kilbride, and is able to undertake practically any type of undersea research and survey work that may be asked of her. It is in this type of work that the ?PISCES? plays a major part - being able to dive to a depth of 3,000 feet and, totally independent of the mother ship, it can cover a fantastic range by itself.

UNUSUAL

The ?VENTURER? is based at Ardrossan as she is now working regularly in the Firth of Clyde. However, she often gets further afield. One of her more unusual jobs was to repair and re-lay part of the transatlantic telephone cables in the Bay of Biscay.

The ?VENTURER? has proved such a success that Vickers are converting another, larger trawler, to do the same type of jobs that ?VENTURER? tackles. The new ship will be called the ?VICKERS VOYAGER? and will carry two mini subs.

Scribe Tango

Sitmar Line's FAIRSTAR leaves Southampton 27 April 1972 on a round the world cruise via Panama

ONE   CLASS

comfort   to

AUSTRALIA

from   just

£  190

S I T M A R    L I N E

t.v.  “FAIRSTAR”

SOUTH  AFRICA  ……….….. from £110

NEW  ZEALAND  …………...  from £218

ROUND  the  WORLD  ……  from £367   

Value for money, it’s the greatest travel value

you can find.  

A five star floating hotel visiting the

world’s exotic ports —  24,000 tons 

of super comfort offering fabulous

living, great meals and top entertainment.

The whole ship is yours to enjoy

and it’s all included in your fare.

Departing  from  Southampton

27^th April  ……………  via Panama

6^th July  ……..……..  via Cape Town

20^th September  ……  via  Panama

30^th November  ….….   via Panama

BERTHS  AVAILABLE  ON  ALL  SAILINGS

For  reservations  apply  to  your  Travel  Agent

French Line's Passenger Liner FRANCE pays her first visit to Scotland

   The elegant passenger liner FRANCE made a spectacular sight when, with flags flying, she anchored off the Forth Railway Bridge at South Queensferry in the Firth of Forth on her first visit to Scotland.

  Her 1,368 passengers were ferried to Leith where fleets of luxury coaches carried them to Edinburgh and other tourist destinations.   Many visited Edinburgh Castle and gathered on the ramparts to witness the firing of the one-o’clock gun and they could see their ship in the distance.

   The 66,343 gross ton and 316.1m (1,035ft) long liner is owned by Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (also known as The French Line) of Le Havre, France and is commanded by Commandant Jean Nadal.   Since the time of her construction in 1960 FRANCE has held the record as being the longest passenger liner ever built.

    That evening FRANCE, with her siren blowing, ablaze with lights and her two streamlined-winged funnels (stacks) illuminated, left the Forth to continue her cruise.

During the Vietnam conflict United States Navy cruiser U.S.S. OKLAHOMA CITY shells enemy targets

   During the Vietnam conflict the United States Navy cruiser U.S.S. OKLAHOMA CITY, flagship of the Seventh Fleet and 11 destroyers shelled the North Vietnam Army’s artillery and armour around Quang Tri City below the demilitarised zone and in central Binh Dinh Province.

Flagship of U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet U.S.S. SPRINGFIELD is based in Gaeta, Central Italy

   The Providence-class guided-missile light cruiser U.S.S. SPRINGFIELD, the Flagship of the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet is based at Gaeta, a city in the province of Latina, in Lazio in Central Italy, about 80 km from Naples.

Advert in May 1972 by Swan Hunter Group for a Ship Repair Accounts Supervisor to work in Singapore

OVERSEAS  OPPORTUNITY

WITH

 SWAN  HUNTER  GROUP  LIMITED

 Applications are invited for the position of

SHIP REPAIR ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR

In a large modern ship repairing yard, managed by the Group in Singapore

Applicants should be in the 27-45 age group and have had several years experience of compiling complete Ship Repair Accounts for final approval by Senior Management.   Some experience in Line Management would be an additional advantage.   Initial Tour would be for a period of two years with 10 weeks U.K. leave on completion.   Remuneration including overseas allowance is approximately £3250 per annum plus fringe benefits including free furnished housing, children’s education allowances, medical expenses, car allowance, and pension found/Life Insurance.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a warm sunny climate under congenial conditions.

Applications should be addressed in confidence to :

OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

SWAN HUNTER GROUP LTD.,

P.O. BOX 3,  SOUTH SHIELDS,  CO. DURHAM  

1972 Advert by Napier Company for an Assistant Naval Architect and a Ship Designer

Owing to expansion

Consultants require an

ASSISTANT

NAVAL

ARCHITECT

and a

SHIP

DESIGNER

Applications are invited from progressive, experienced persons,

especially those familiar with the design of all classes of dry cargo ships (up to about 20,000 t.d.w.) and / or fishing vessels and specialised craft, plus associated work – stability calculations etc. etc.

Please write with full details, stating salary required, to

THE  NAPIER  COMPANY

Bank of  Scotland Buildings

Arbroath

Angus,  Scotland

"Aberthaw Fisher" brings three transformers weighing 300 tons

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 12th May 1972

A load of three transformers weighing 300 tons were brought into Ardrossan Harbour this week by the "Aberthaw Fisher," a roll-on roll-off vessel from Manchester.
A special lift docked the heavy load and on Thursday a police patrol accompanied the large vehicle which carried the transformers to Hunterston.

Burns & Laird cancel thirty sailings of "Lion" due to Northern Ireland troubles

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 12th May 1972

SAILINGS OFF

Fifteen sailings in each direction between Ardrossan and Belfast in June, July and Augst have been withdrawn by Burns & Laird Lines Ltd.

Ten of the departures from Ardrossan were timed for 7 pm at weekends, and the remainder were scheduled to leave at 10am on Sundays.

The company explains that present circumstances in Northern Ireland have led to a reduction in the number of passengers travelling to Belfast, particularly on holiday, and that those who had booked on the affected sailings will be accommodated on alternative sailings by mv "Lion."

Lack Of Rail Parcel Traffic At Ardrossan

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated 19th May 1972

LACK OF RAIL PARCEL TRAFFIC AT ARDROSSAN

The general manager of British Rail Scottish Region has told Ardrossan Town Council that very little goods traffic has been dealt with at the town station in the past two years and he could not see any appreciable increase in truckloads of goods at the north station goods yard.

He was replying to representations made by the council against the closure of freight handling at the town station and the lack of covered handling facilities at the north goods yard.

The general manager said also that he was sorry the council felt disappointed at the parcel facilities at South Beach Station, but only one firm in the town employed the parcels service at that station to any extend. The main parcels depot was at Saltcoats Station.

Treasurer D. McMillan said he was disappointed that British Rail had not notified the council officially of the closure of the town goods yard, and he felt that the letter from the general manager had not really answered the points made by the council.

British Rail, he said used Ardrossan goods yard for storage of diesel units and if it was used for that why should it not be kept open for freight traffic? However, he felt that any trader asking for parcels to be collected or delivered at South Beach would find that British Rail would be helpful.

On the suggestion of Bailie Fitzsimmons the council agreed to keep watch on the position.

Scribe Tango

Port report dated Friday 19th May 1972

From "Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 19th May 1972

Ardrossan Harbour report 34 arrivals this week of which two were tankers.
From Invergordon came a cargo of oil in the "Oulica" while the "Amastra" carried a load of spirit.
On Thursday a Polish vessel "Gevobulk" arrived with a load of sulphur.

Blue Funnel's JASON arrives in Kaosiung (Taiwan) for demolition

Her maiden voyage left UK to Australia on 19th February 1950.

On 23rd May 1972 she arrived at Kaosiung (Taiwan) for demolition.

Troon lifeboat launched after report of flares off Arran

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald " dated Friday 2nd June 1972

Troon lifeboat was launched last Friday morning, when flares were sighted off the coast of Arran.
The boat made a thorough search of the area but nothing was found.
When they returned to Troon the crew learned that the flares had been part of a Navy exercise of which they had not been informed.

Troon lifeboat saves two Saltcoats sea-anglers

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald " dated Friday 2nd June 1972

SEA ANGLERS SAVED BY LIFEBOAT

A Saltcoats man and his son on their way to a sea angling festival in Lamlash were rescued by Troon lifeboat on Saturday after the engine on their 30-foot vessel the "Blue Dolphin" broke down.

The men were only a short distance out from Saltcoats when the engine failed and their boat began to drift down the coast towards Irvine.

The men, Mr. J. Montgomery of 56 Anderson Drive, Saltcoats, and his son, William, signalled to the Irvine pilot that they were in difficulties and he in turn called out the lifeboat.
The lifeboat reached them just as they were drifting on to the Irvine shorehead rocks.
After putting a line on board, the lifeboat pulled the crippled boat to safety.

Campbeltown and Lamlash lifeboats launched to a Campbeltown boat "Bonny Lass"

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald " dated Friday 2nd June 1972

CALL FOR LIFEBOAT

Lamlash inshore lifeboat was alerted by coastguards late on Saturday night when a Campbeltown fishing boat "Bonny Lass" was reported to be drifting towards the rocks at Drummadoon.

The boat had been taking part in the Lamlash Sea Angling Festival and had nine passengers on board as well as the crew.

The lifeboat was taken to Blackwaterfoot and stood by while Campbeltown lifeboat was called.

In the early hours of Sunday the lifeboat got a tow on board "Bonny Lass" and the Lamlash boat was dismissed.