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Fifteen sailings in each direction between Ardrossan and Belfast in June, July and Augst have been withdrawn by Burns & Laird Lines Ltd.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

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.

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.

Dinghy washed ashore at Stevenston

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

A fibreglass dinghy was washed ashore at Stevenston on Wednesday.
It is thought that the vessel belongs to persons who took part in an angling festival at Lamlash, Arran, last weekend but Saltcoats police are anxious to hear from anyone who has knowledge of the dinghy.

ROBERT DUNDAS used as film location for BBC's "Doctor Who" programme

From Wikipedia
Laid up at Chatham, the ship arrived at Grays, Essex, for scrapping on 3 June 1972.

Whilst in transit from Chatham, the ship was utilised by the BBC on 1-2 June 1972 as a filming location for the science fiction series Doctor Who
The vessel represented the fictitious SS Bernice in the story Carnival of Monsters.

Burns & Laird 1972 advert for Ro/Ro from Ardrossan to Belfast and Larne

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

A newspaper advert for Burns & Laird Lines Ltd.

Port Report dated Friday 2nd June 1972

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

There were 52 arrivals at Ardrossan Harbour this week, four of which were tankers.
A cargo of crude oil was brought by "Halia," sulphur was carried by "Fro" and a cargo of wood pulp from Norway was brought by "Amethyst."

ROBERT DUNDAS used as film location for BBC's "Doctor Who" programme

From Wikipedia
Laid up at Chatham, the ship arrived at Grays, Essex, for scrapping on 3 June 1972.

Whilst in transit from Chatham, the ship was utilised by the BBC on 1-2 June 1972 as a filming location for the science fiction series Doctor Who
The vessel represented the fictitious SS Bernice in the story Carnival of Monsters.