SLOTERGRACHT leaves Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) for La Pallice (Bay of Biscay, France)

4 November 2024 at 13:10 hours

Greenock (Scotland, UK)

Let's start with the weather.

   It was a grey and gloomy day with a blanket of light cloud covering the sky.  Occasionally, very occasionally, a weak and watery sun could be seen through a hole in the clouds.

   It was not cold, and also not warm, but if you were outdoors it would be prudent to wear a thick sweater or jacket or coat.

   A very light wind from the east south east caused a slight ripple on the water and visibility continually changed from heavy rain near Argyll to light rain and misty conditions off Greenock.

   The old year was coming to it's Autumnal end and the new year would soon arrive. 

But arriving today was the Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship MSC JOY carrying a cargo of containers from Liverpool (England, UK).

   She was scheduled to arrive at the east end of Greenock Ocean Terminal (= the container terminal) and had met the first of two tugs, SVITZER WARDEN, off Gourock, and the tug's line was attached through the aft centre lead of the container ship.

   But there was a problem.   The Netherlands cargo ship SLOTERGRACHT was occupying the berth which MSC JOY was to use.  SLOTERGRACHT should have left about 45 minutes earlier and her tug SVITZER MILFORD was attached and ready.

   Meanwhile MSC JOY and her tug loitered off Gourock, moving slowly towards the Ocean Terminal.

   And then SLOTERGRACHT was ready to leave, and tug SVITZER MILFORD pulled her astern off the berth and canted her at Number 1 buoy to face outwards, and the cargo ship let go the tug and started for La Pallice, in the Bay of Biscay, France.   Outbound SLOTERGRACHT can be seen passing the inbound MSC JOY.

   SVITZER MILFORD then turned her attention to the nearing MSC JOY off Greenock Esplanade and the two tugs quickly berthed the container ship at the Ocean Terminal.

In light drizzly rain tug SVITZER MILFORD pulls SLOTERGRACHT astern from her berth at east Greenock Container Terminal

Tug SVITZER MILFORD begins canting SLOTERGRACHT to starboard, turning her to face outward for her passage to France

SLOTERGRACHT (in the distance) and heading outbound passes the inbound container ship MSC JOY

SLOTERGRACHT was heading outbound and passing the town of Kilcreggan on the north shore when a heavy shower of rain errupted around her, and so ruined the ....what would have been ... a really nice image.   Such is life.

MSC JOY approaches Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) with containers from Liverpool

4 November 2024 at 13:50 hours

Greenock (Scotland, UK)

Let's start with the weather.

   It was a grey and gloomy day with a blanket of light cloud covering the sky.  Occasionally, very occasionally, a weak and watery sun could be seen through a hole in the clouds.

   It was not cold, and also not warm, but if you were outdoors it would be prudent to wear a thick sweater or jacket or coat.

   A very light wind from the east south east caused a slight ripple on the water and visibility continually changed from heavy rain near Argyll to light rain and misty conditions off Greenock.

   The old year was coming to it's Autumnal end and the new year would soon arrive. 

But arriving today was the Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship MSC JOY carrying a cargo of containers from Liverpool (England, UK).

   She was scheduled to arrive at the east end of Greenock Ocean Terminal (= the container terminal) and had met the first of two tugs, SVITZER WARDEN, off Gourock, and the tug's line was attached through the aft centre lead of the container ship.

   But there was a problem.   The Netherlands cargo ship SLOTERGRACHT was occupying the berth which MSC JOY was to use.  SLOTERGRACHT should have left about 45 minutes earlier and her tug SVITZER MILFORD was attached and ready.

   Meanwhile MSC JOY and her tug loitered off Gourock, moving slowly towards the Ocean Terminal.

   And then SLOTERGRACHT was ready to leave, and tug SVITZER MILFORD pulled her astern off the berth and canted her at Number 1 buoy to face outwards, and the cargo ship let go the tug and started for La Pallice, in the Bay of Biscay, France.   Outbound SLOTERGRACHT can be seen passing the inbound MSC JOY.

   SVITZER MILFORD then turned her attention to the nearing MSC JOY off Greenock Esplanade and the two tugs quickly berthed the container ship at the Ocean Terminal. 

In a rain shower MSC JOY and the tug SVITZER WARDEN approach Greenock Ocean Terminal 

MSC JOY (on the left) and the outbound SLOTERGRACHT (on the right)

MSC JOY approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal

In heavy rain CORUISK at Wemyss Bay loading passengers and vehicles for Rothesay

It was raining heavily and CORUISK was temporarily serving on the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay service as replacement for BUTE which was receiving annual maintainance at Garvel Drydock, Greenock.

Admiralty Pilot Boat DMS POPPY passing West Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)

These images were taken in heavy rain, and DMS POPPY is based at the Naval Base at Faslane, Gare Loch, Scotland.

MILLBROOK was passing West Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)

This image was taken in heavy rain

FEDERAL KIVALINA passes Greenock on her way upriver to Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow

   It was a dull, misty and murky morning when FEDERAL KIVALINA passed Greenock on her way up the River Clyde to Glasgow.   The sky was fully overcast with a blanket of thick dark grey clouds and, of course, it was raining, mostly light rain but often heavy.

   Three tugs were in attendance.   Ahead were SVITZER MILFORD and ANGLEGARTH and, at the stern, was SVITZER WARDEN.   Indeed the first image shows SVITZER MILFORD, which was leading the procession, being drenched in the deluge of heavy rain.   

   Therefore a severe scarcity of sunshine stopped any chance of superb snapshots of the passing of the bulker.  That's what you call heavy rain.

And then the weather God smiled and stopped the rain and allowed the sun to make an appearance.   Better late than never.

Police boat CLYDE passes West Quay, Greenock and heading for James Watt Dock Marina

Police boat CLYDE emerges in a heavy downpour of rain

SOLVIK passes Custom House Quay, Greenock on her way upriver to King George V Dock, Glasgow

Yacht SALTERNS NYMPH passing Custom House Quay, Greenock for James Watt Dock Marina, Greenock

The rain had now stopped and there were a few bright intervals and visibilty was a little better

SOUND OF SHUNA passing Custom House Quay, Greenock for Dales, James Watt Dock, Greenock

And at 13:47 arrived at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock

Pilot Boat GANTOCK at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)

In the background can be seen the twin funnels (stacks) of Caledonian MacBrayne's ro-ro ferry BUTE in the Garvel Drydock, Greenock.    BUTE and her sister ship ARGYLL are normally serving on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay service in the Firth of Clyde.

SD OMAGH passing Custom House Quay, Greenock, inbound for Great Harbour, Greenock

Orange coloured motor boat with 5 souls aboard passes Custom House Quay, Greenock

SIR JOHN MURRAY outbound passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland, UK)

Scottish Government Minister warns west coast islanders will face a difficult winter with ferries

From BBC Scotland online news 6 November 2024

Islanders face a difficult winter, warns minister

Image caption,

Fiona Hyslop said the ferry network faced a difficult and challenging winter

Image source,Christopher Brindle

Image caption,

New problems with MV Caledonian Isles were found when it went into dry dock at Greenock

Image source,Christopher Brindle

Image caption,

MV Caledonian Isles has been out of action since it went for annual maintenance in January

Image source,Stephen Lipton

Image caption,

A new ferry Glen Sannox, pictured during its final sea trials, will serve the Arran route but a final delivery date is still awaited