Notice at Troon Harbour

Troon Marina (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.)

Spliethoff's DOLFIJNGRACHT rescues a man who was trying to row single-handed across the Atlantic

   A 44-year old man who was attempting to row

single-handed across the North Atlantic Ocean had

to be rescued today when his boat got into difficulties

in stormy weather and was in danger of sinking.

   The man had set off last month from Norfolk,

Virginia, USA, on a 3,400 mile journey to his home

in Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides

  Islands of Scotland.

   When the storm became too severe he radioed

for assistance and the U.K. Coastguard picked up his

call and alerted ships in the area to assist. 

   The Dutch ship DOLFIJNGRACHT which was nearby

approached the boat and, when the man saw the vessel

coming near, he left his boat and took to his small life raft

and paddled to the ship which lowered ropes and a

pilot ladder to get him aboard.

   DOLFIJNGRACHT is a large multi purpose cargo ship,

built in 2009, is 157m long and has a 13,558 gross

tonnage and is owned by Spliethoff Group of Amsterdam,

The Netherlands and was heading to the Canadian Port

of Gros Cacouna in Quebec.

ALLEGRETTO arrives at Ayr from Honfleur, France

ALLEGRETTO at Ayr Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.)

What do you want (or don't want) on this website ?

 ?

 Every few months we want to find out what you, the viewers, want to see and read about on this website.

   So, what do you want -  or don't want ?   Should there be more of this  ....... or less of that   ....... or maybe something entirely new  ?

   Please use the "Contact us" button and tell us in as much detail as possible so that we can try to provide items which are of interest to you.

   Also, if you would be interested in helping with the site or contributing items please contact us.

   Thank you 

Tankers, coasters, tugs and naval vessels .... Ocean or Coastal ...... Any flag ...... Anywhere

   A reader in Australia writes that he emigrated to Queensland a few years ago and feels that there is a lack of stories on this site, especially for tankers, coasters, tugs and naval vessels – wherever in the world.

   Can we therefore ask readers to contribute stories  or memories for inclusion on this site.

   Thank you.

CalMac ferry ISLE OF ARRAN leaving James Watt Dock, Greenock

All images courtesy of Ally Mackenzie (Facebook profile is Ally Mackenzie)

   September 2018 and Caledonian MacBrayne RoRo ferry ISLE OF ARRAN is manoeuvered out of James Watt Dock, Greenock.

   Ally writes :

  I have enclosed some photos of the James Watt Dock I took back in September 2018.

  The photos show tug boats BRUISER and BATTLER bringing the

ISLE OF ARRAN RoRo ferry out of the dock.  The ISLE OF ARRAN

ferry had been at Dale's for repair to her engines which had been given

her problems all season.

Also managed to capture the cruise liner REGAL PRNCESS as she

was berthed at Ocean Terminal, Greenock.

The first photo shows tug boat BRUISER in the James Watt Dock ready

to take the ferry out of dock.

  The second photo shows BATTLER, ISLE OF ARRAN RoRo and

BRUISER ready to move out of the dock.

  Third photo shows BATTLER leaving the dock.

Fourth photo shows ISLE OF ARRAN and BRUISER moving out of dock.

 Fifth photo shows ISLE OF ARRAN and BRUISER out of the dock.

 Sixth photo shows BRUISER and ISLE OF ARRAN as the tugs began

to swing the ferry round

Deck Cadet officers Critchley and Doherty from RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965

Alan Rutherford is interested in the whereabouts of other deck cadet officers Critchley and Doherty from RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965

SYDNEY : Australia or Canada ?

SYDNEY  :  Australia or Canada ?

    First let me say that I really enjoy reading your site, but

I have to point out a little anomaly.

   You show many vessels as going to or coming from

 Sydney.   I suspect that most readers will assume that

the Sydney referred to is the big city in Australia, but here

in Cape Breton Island in Canada is another Sydney, a busy

seaport.

   So can I ask that, for geographical accuracy, when

Sydney is mentioned that it is shown as being Australia

  or Cape Breton Island in Canada.

   Dale, Cape Breton Island, Canada.

Douglas replies :

   Thanks for your message Dale.   My education has

quite obviously been sadly lacking as I did not know

that there was a Sydney in Canada, but now that I am

aware I will try to look out for any future items and

amend them “geographically accurately” as necessary.

   As an afterthought, do any other readers know of

ports with the same names and which could be confused

with each other ?

    Douglas

Gibraltar around 1970

Received by e-mail :

   Gibraltar around 1970, my favourite port, John L.,  (Papayanni Line)

Harrison Line's new ship INVENTOR in 1960s and testing her derrick at Glasgow

John of Wallasay (England) e-mails :

   I was on T & J Harrison’s heavy lift ship INVENTOR in 60s

when she was new and testing the derrick at Glasgow.

   Have you any dates of that time ?

 Here is my Fotoflite picture of INVENTOR at anchor…. John

 Douglas replies :

   I’ll see what I can do.

Ben Line carried a Naval tug from Trincomali to Gan ???

Ben Line carried a Naval tug from Trincomali to Gan ???

     I was with Brocklebank’s and sometimes called at

Gan Island in the Indian Ocean to discharge stores for

the RAF overside to landing craft in the lagoon.

   Talking to someone he said that he was on a Ben ship

which carried a small naval tug from Trincomali in

Ceylon to Gan, around late 1960s.

   Anyone know about this ?

    J.S., (Wallasey)

TWEED, a 1959-built 112 foot water carrier of

Furness Withy, Port of Spain, Trinidad 

 James R. (Avonmouth, England) e-mails :

    Looking at your list of ships I was surprised to see

TWEED of Furness Withy, a 112 foot water tanker at

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

   Anyone have information on this ship ?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Model of Clyde puffer / lighter SKYLIGHT at Riverside Museum, Glasgow