Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

List Arrivals, Sailings and Events


What/When Ship

News Event

Monday, June 16, 2025 @ 1008
AWH ALMA (2024 > Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO: 9486166 : length overall 144.8m of Manager: Chemikalien Seetransport Singapore) Pte Ltd, Singapore : Owner: Awh Alma Sendirian Berhad - Singapore) Own Page

Tanker AWH ALMA at the Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK)

Ship's locationFuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK)Port of RegistryMonrovia (Liberia)
Arrived fromIjmuiden (Netherlands) departing there at 07:34 on 10 JuneGross Tonnage11,939
Deadweght Tonnage17,055

Contributed by Robert McManus

This brightly-painted tanker certainly brought colour to a dull day in Scotland and, for further interest, was berthed port-side-to the terminal (= with her head east, towards Glasgow.)   Tankers usually are berthed starboard-side-to (= with the head west, towards Greenock.)

In the next image no doubt you notice the airliner above the tanker.   Rothesay Dock in Clydebank is essentially below the flight path for aircraft landing at the nearby Glasgow Airport, hence the aeroplane in the image.

News Event

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 @ 2130
JAVA (1960s Oil Tanker) Own Page

Does anyone remember the Danish Tankers JAVA and DANGULF MAERSK in 1960 / 1970s ???

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By e-mail 18 June 2025


From WD (Saltcoats)

Does anyone remember the Danish Tankers JAVA and DANGULF MAERSK in 1960 / 1970s.   They came from Stanlow to the Shell Mex at Ardrossan, Ayrshire.

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News Event

Thursday, June 19, 2025 @ 1728
CALEDONIAN ISLES (1993- Passenger and vehicle ferry 308 feet 94m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock) Own Page

Indefinite delay to return of Arran's troubled main ferry CALEDONIAN ISLES

Ship's locationArran Berth, Ardrossan Harbour (Scotland, UK) Port of RegistryGlasgow (UK)
Ships agentCaledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, ScotlandGross Tonnage5,221

From BBC Scotland Online News 19 June 2025

Return of Arran's main ferry delayed indefinitely

A black and white ship with red funnels leaving a dry dock. Two tugs at the side of the ship and rear are helping it leave the dock
Image source,Christopher Brindle
Image caption,

MV Caledonian Isles will return to dry dock for inspection and repairs

  • Published
    19 June 2025, 17:28 BST
Updated 58 minutes ago

Ferry operator CalMac has said it is "impossible to say" how long a ferry serving Arran will remain out of action due to a pressure issue.

MV Caledonian Isles has been unable to carry passengers since January 2024 due to a series of faults that have cost nearly £11m to fix.

The 32-year-old ship had been due to resume sailings from Ardrossan to Arran last week but sea trials revealed a problem with the ship's gearbox.

The operator said the ship would return to dry dock in the next week to resolve a pressure issue with the vessel's propulsion system.

CalMac said it was unable to confirm a return to service date until an inspection takes place, but sailings from Troon would still be available in the meantime with a two-vessel service of MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred.

 

MV Caledonian Isles was initially taken out of service in January last year after routine annual maintenance revealed serious steel corrosion.

The ship underwent months of major repair work in dry dock at Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside, which required removal of the ship's engines.

After the ship returned to Scotland in September, a gearbox and propeller fault were detected.

Further investigation at Dale's Marine in Greenock revealed the rear of the ship was twisted.

It had been due to return to the Arran route by the end of April, but this was repeatedly pushed back and the ship was expected to return to service last week.

Ferry service update

The state-owned operator's chief executive officer Duncan Mackison said: "Everyone at CalMac is disappointed that MV Caledonian Isles isn't ready to carry passengers yet, and I know that disappointment will be shared by communities across our network and by those who travel to and from Arran regularly."

He said the inspection of the vessel would take a few days and until then, it was "impossible" to determine how long repairs might take.

Mr Mackison added: "But there is a range of possible scenarios going from the issue being resolved in a few days to it taking significantly longer.

"To give communities and customers certainty, we're removing MV Caledonian Isles from deployment plans for now and will provide a detailed update on any service impact early next week."

Campaigners line up outside the Scottish Parliament building holding signs which say
Image caption,

Campaigners gathered outside the Scottish Parliament building and urged the government to save Ardrossan Harbour

When it returns to service, MV Caledonian Isles will run from Ardrossan, the only ferry in the vicinity able to do so since the long-awaited MV Glen Sannox and its yet-to-be-delivered sister ship are too big to dock at the port.

Currently, passengers heading to Arran have to board the replacement ferries at Troon.

The Scottish government is investigating potentially buying the port at Ardrossan to make the necessary changes to allow both newer vessels to berth there, but talks are reported to have stalled.

 

The latest delay to the return of the MV Caledonian Isles will cause a lot of frustration and disappointment on both sides of the Firth of Clyde.

It means a further delay to the resumption of sailings between Ardrossan – the historic berth for the service - and Brodick.

Campaigners on Arran point out that the crossing from Ardrossan is shorter than the replacement crossing from Troon. The terminal in Ardrossan is next to a railway station so the onward journey is easier for foot passengers.

There is also concern over what the loss of the Arran service means to the local economy in Ardrossan.

The Scottish government insists it wants the Ardrossan to Arran service to stay. It is looking at options such as taking Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership so it can be upgraded to handle the Glen Sannox and the other new ferry due to come into service on the Arran route, the Glen Rosa.

But that is a longer-term issue.

In the short term, there is the matter of how quickly sailings from Ardrossan to Arran will resume.

The return of the Caledonian Isles has been put back a number of times already and it is impossible to say whether the latest delay will be significant or not.

But each delay adds to the fear of some campaigners that Troon will become the permanent home of the Arran service by stealth.

News Event

Thursday, June 19, 2025 @ 1830
Own Page

Scottish Government reviewing Caledonian MacBrayne's West Coast ferry fares

From BBC Scotland Online News 19 June 2025

Ferry fares under review but 'no decision' on RET

A CalMac ferry North Ayrshire's Ardrossan harbour. Image source,Getty Images
  • Published
    1 hour ago

The Scottish government is reviewing west coast ferry fares, but insisted that no decisions have been made on the future of cheaper rates.

It invests about £25m every year to reduce the cost of fares on CalMac crossings under a scheme called road equivalent tariff (RET).

RET applies to both islanders and visitors, and is available on Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) - including the Western Isles, and Arran-Ardrossan-Campbeltown.

Asked if it could be scrapped for non-islanders, Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie told BBC Naidheachdan that all options had to be "on the table and then ruled out one by one".

He said fares were being looked at as part of a wider review of the resilience of CalMac's fleet.

Mr Fairlie added: "We are going to look at everything. There are no decisions made on anything at this stage."

What is RET?

RET is a distance-based fares structure, external and was introduced by the SNP on a trial basis in 2008 on routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.

It was rolled out across the remaining CHFS routes by 2015.

On the Stornoway-Ullapool route, RET means a single fare for a foot passenger costs £12.30 and £66.75 for cars.

Without the scheme, they would cost £25.75 and £128.70, according to Transport Scotland.

It said single fares on the Oban-Tiree route without RET would cost £22.60 for foot passengers and £135.60 for cars.

Under RET, they are £13.70 and £74.75.

'Supporting islanders'

Mr Fairlie said the review would look at how more revenue could be raised to improve the resilience of CalMac's fleet.

He said: "I think people are wise enough to understand that governments have to look at every possible option."

Mr Fairlie said the Scottish government was committed to supporting island communities.

Transport Scotland said that, under the Islands Connectivity Plan, external, it was working towards implementing islander and non-islander fares across CHFS and Northern Isles networks.

A spokesperson said: "No final decisions have been taken on the detail of this and there will be engagement with stakeholders in due course."

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 0751
AURORA (2001 > Container ship IMO 9234989 : 134.42m overall of BG Freight Line, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Own Page

AURORA arriving in Firth of Clyde, off Dunoon, and heading for Greenock Ocean Terminal

Ship's locationPassing Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)Port of RegistryAntigua and Barbuda
Arrived fromBelfast (Northern Ireland, UK) having left there the previous evening
Sailing forWest Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK)
Cargo carried on arrivalContainers
Ships agentBG Freight Line

The owners of the vessel, BG Freight Line of Rotterdam, Netherlands, operate a large fleet of blue-coloured container ships and advertise themselves as "The Big Blue"

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 1150
VAN KINSBERGEN (1999 > Training ship Pennant A 902 : IMO: 9201578 : 41.5m overall of Royal Netherlands Navy) Own Page

Netherlands Navy Training Ship VAN KINSBERGEN passes Greenock on passage to Kyle of Lochalsh

Ship's locationPassing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)Port of RegistryNetherlands Navy
Arrived fromBerth 6 King George V Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK)Gross Tonnage528
Sailing forKyle of Lochalsh (Scottish Highlands, UK)


The navy training ship (MOV) Van Kinsbergen is used for practical nautical training, a task for which it was specifically built and equipped.
Specifications

Length 41.5 m (overall length) Draught 3.3 m Propulsion 2 diesel engines, 2 screws with an electrically powered bow screw Speed 12.8 knots Ship's company 2 x 5 personnel (5 civilians, 5 military personnel) In use with Royal Netherlands Navy
Two bridges

In addition to the navigation bridge, the MOV Van Kinsbergen has a second, fully equipped training bridge. The ship also has enough manoeuvring room to be able to exercise mooring manoeuvres safely. It also has a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB).
Two crews

MOV Van Kinsbergen has both a civilian and a military crew. Each crew has 5 personnel. The crews are interchangeable. The civilian crew consists of a captain, a 1st and 2nd helmsman, a chief engineer and a cook. The military crew consists of a captain, an executive officer, a Master Seaman, a Chief Engineer, and a cook.
The ship was built to civilian standards at the Damen Dockyards in Gorinchem.

Vessel particulars

Current name:VAN KINSBERGEN
Vessel Type:Naval Patrol Vessel
Gross tonnage:528 tons
Length:40 m
Beam:10 m
Draught:3.4 m

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 1327
KINGDOM OF FIFE (2008- Offshore tug / supply vessel of Briggs Marine & Environmental Services, Burntisland, Fife, U.K..) Own Page

KINGDOM OF FIFE working at large yellow-coloured mooring buoy at Tail-of-the-Bank off Greenock

Ship's locationLarge yellow-coloured mooring buoy at Tail-of-the-Bank anchorage off Greenock (Scotland)Port of RegistryLeith (Scotland, UK)
Arrived fromInchgreen Wall, Greenock (Scotland, UK)Net Tonnage437
Gross Tonnage1,459

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 1420
AURORA (2001 > Container ship IMO 9234989 : 134.42m overall of BG Freight Line, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) Own Page

AURORA leaves Greenock Ocean Terminal with containers for Dublin (Ireland)

Arrived fromBelfast (Northern Ireland, UK)Port of RegistryAntigua and Barbuda
Sailing forDublin (Ireland)
Sailed from berthWest berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK)
Cargo carried on arrivalContainers
Outward cargoContainers
Ships agentBG Freight Line

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 1430
White Boost Carbonology Sport canoe off Greenock on 25 June 2025 Own Page

Male canoeist on white canoe off Off Greenock Esplanade (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) on 25 June 2025

Ship's locationOff Greenock Esplanade (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)

News Event

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 @ 1435
Un-named small blue hull private motor cruiser passing Greenock on 25 June 2025 Own Page

An un-named small blue hull motor cruiser passing Greenock Esplanade (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)

Ship's locationPassing Greenock Esplanade (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) heading inbound towards Ocean Terminal

It always seemed strange that owners who are justly proud in maintaining and presenting their vessel do not have the name on the bow.   Can anyone put a name to this cruiser ?

News Event

Monday, June 30, 2025 @ 1736
IRISH COAST ( 1952-1968 Passenger and cargo vessel 340 feet long of Coast Lines, Liverpool) Own Page

Either IRISH COAST or SCOTTISH COAST collided with Shell Oil Tanker at Ardrossan Harbour

Ship's locationArdrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)Port of RegistryLiverpool

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E-Mail at 1736 on 30 June 2025

   Does anybody remember in 1950s / 1960s when either IRISH COAST or SCOTTISH COAST was leaving Ardrossan Harbour for Belfast and her stern contacted a Shell Tanker in the Tanker Berth ?

Blackie

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News Event

Monday, June 30, 2025 @ 1900
The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate
DISNEY DREAM (2011 > Dream-Class Cruise Liner 4,000 passengers 1,458 crew IMO 9434254 : 1,114.7 feet 339.8m overall of the Walt Disney Company / Disney Cruise Line) Own Page

Two persons rescued after being overboard from DISNEY DREAM near Florida (USA)

Arrived fromCastaway Cay, Bahamas on a 4-day cruise around BahamasPort of RegistryNassau (New Providence Island, Bahamas)
Sailing forFort Lauderdale (Florida, USA)Gross Tonnage129,690
Cargo carried on arrivalPassengers
  • Published
    30 June 2025
Updated 4 hours ago

After his daughter fell from the fourth deck of a 14-deck Disney Cruise ship on Sunday afternoon, a father jumped into the ocean to try to save her, according to witnesses.

Videos on social media showed passengers cheering as the two were safely recovered by a rescue boat. They were picked up after treading water for 10 minutes, according to witnesses.

The girl appeared to fall when her father took her picture against a railing, witnesses said. A man overboard alert was broadcast on the ship, and crew rushed to recover them.

"The ship was moving quickly, so quickly, it's crazy how quickly the people became tiny dots in the sea, and then you lost sight of them," passenger Laura Amador said.

"The captain slowed the ship and turned it around, and then they deployed a tender ship with people on it to go get them, and we saw them rescue the dad and daughter," she told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

The 4,000-person capacity Disney Dream, was returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after sailing for four days around the Bahamas.

Disney confirmed in a statement that two passengers were rescued, but offered few details about what occurred.

"The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water," a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson said. "We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes.

 

The Disney Dream cruise ship seen in the water. It has a waterslide on top and has 14 decksImage source,Getty Images

"We watched it, you could see two little things...it was crazy, it was horrific," passenger Gar Frantz told NBC News, describing how he witnessed the two enter the ocean and nearly disappear into the horizon.

The incident took place on the last day of the cruise, and the ship returned to port in Florida as normal.

While it is rare for passengers to fall from cruise ships, rescues are not often successful when they do.

According to a Cruise Lines International Association report from 2019, external, 25 people fell overboard that year from cruise ships and only nine were saved from the water.


 


Disney Dream departing Port CanaveralFlorida, in September 2016
History
 Bahamas
Name Disney Dream
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operator Disney Cruise Line
Port of registry  Bahamas
Ordered February 22, 2007
Builder Meyer Werft
Cost US$900 million
Yard number S. 687
Laid down August 19, 2009
Launched October 30, 2010[1]
Sponsored by Jennifer Hudson
Christened January 19, 2011
Completed December 8, 2010
Maiden voyage January 26, 2011
In service 2011–present
Identification
Status In service
General characteristics
Class & type Dream-class (Disney) cruise liner[2]
Tonnage 129,690 GT[3]
Displacement 65,298 t (64,267 long tons; 71,979 short tons)[3]
Length 1,114.7 ft (339.8 m)[3]
Beam 121.4 ft (37.0 m)[4]
Height 217 ft (66 m)[3]
Draft 27.3 ft (8.32 m)[4]
Decks 18 (14 passenger)
Installed power
  • 3 × 12-cylinder MAN diesels turning 14.4 MW (19,300 hp) generators
  • 2 × 14-cylinder MAN diesels turning 16.8 MW (22,500 hp) generators[3]
Propulsion 2 × 23 MW (31,000 hp) Converteam motors turning 5-blade inward-turning fixed-pitch propellers[3]
Speed
  • Service: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
  • Maximum: 24.7 knots (45.7 km/h; 28.4 mph)
Capacity 4,000 passengers (maximum)[5]
 

News Event

Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 0600
Own Page

Aberdeen (City in north-east Scotland, UK) will host the Tall Ships Races 19 - 22 July 2025

Ship's locationAberdeen (City in north-east Scotland, UK)
  • From BBC Scotland Online News 16 June 2025

Aberdeen to be 'party city' during Tall Ships Races

Light-coloured tall ship with masts and beige sails in the sea.Image source,Sail Training International
Image caption,

The Tall Ships event will be held in July

  • Published
    16 June 2025, 10:17 BST
Updated 8 hours ago

Aberdeen will be turned into a "party city" when it hosts the Tall Ships Races later this year, according to the event's organisers.

They have unveiled the full programme for the spectacle which will be held from Saturday 19 July to Tuesday 22 July, external.

Dozens of vessels from around the world will take part, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to enjoy the four-day event. The organisers say they expect it to be the biggest tourist event in Scotland this year.

Additional attractions will include free live music, and street food stalls.

A previously-announced gig by Deacon Blue as part of the Tall Ships event has already sold out.

Tickets for Kaiser Chiefs - 'I Predict a Riot' is among their hits - and a Ministry of Sound Classical event are also sold out.

Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh sitting under spotlights on a dark stage. Lorraine is playing the guitar and singing into  a mic. Ricky has a mic in front of his face and his hands are on his knees. Behind them is a drum kit and two lit lamps with light shades on them.Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,

Deacon Blue have already sold out a Tall Ships gig

 

Aside from the main names, other acts include Tide Lines, Calum Bowie, Glasvegas, Brooke Combe, Little Kicks, Capollos and Look Busy Collective.

The event organisers revealed there would be a "vibrant" line-up of live music, including Scottish trad, jazz, Afrobeat, hip hop, and Latin soul.

The line-up also features local choirs and youth ensembles.

Young children will be catered for with attractions at a family zone at Blaikie's Quay including a giant sandpit and entertainment. People can also get their picture taken with Tall Ships Aberdeen mascot, Dorry the Dolphin, during the festival.

Dorry the dolphin mascot on a boat, giving thumb up, with sign saying 'Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025' in the background.
Image caption,

Children can meet Dorry the dolphin

Aberdeen Tall Ships map of events.

Image caption,

Four days of events are planned

Emma Wadee, Aberdeen City Council's Tall Ships Project Manager, said: "We know how much the people of Aberdeen love to party - we saw that during the Dons' Scottish Cup victory parade.

"We hope people will turn out in their thousands again to enjoy everything on offer at The Tall Ships Races and help turn the Granite City into Party City from morning to night."

Picture of woman - Emma Wadee - smiling at camera, at sea, wearing bright clothing.

Image caption,

Emma Wadee predicted people would turn out in their thousands

The races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing.

Vessels from Oman, Uruguay and Peru will be among those taking part.

Aberdeen previously hosted the prestigious event in 1991 and 1997.

Greenock and Lerwick are among other towns to have featured in the event's history, which dates back to the 1970s.