ArrivalMonday, August 9, 1965 @ 2125 |
COLINA (1960-1967 general cargo liner 294 feet long of Donaldson Line, Glasgow) |
 Own Page |
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Donaldson Line's COLINA arrives in Glasgow from Tighnabruaich (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) |
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This arrival was so unusual that it is worthy of a special remark. Glasgow's Prince's Dock Logbook for 9th August 1965 (checked once, twice, three times) shows Donaldson Line's COLINA as coming from "Great Lakes via Tighnabruaich." Tighnabruaich is an extremely small and quite remote township situated in the West Kyles of Bute (which essentially is just north of Rothesay, in the Firth of Clyde) and COLINA could have had to pass through a short and narrow channel to reach the village, remembering that the ship is about 300 feet long and 45 feet breadth and was drawing 17 feet aft. Normally only Clyde excursion steamers and pleasure yachts would venture through this narrow stretch of water. An ocean vessel contemplating making this unusual manoeuvre would need a master with absolutely iron nerves and a steady hand and a thorough knowledge of the narrows and West Kyles, as probably no Clyde Pilot would be induced to undertake the transit. Any idea why COLINA would have been in the Kyles of Bute ? Just in case you are wondering, "Tighnabruaich" - pronounced Tyne (as in River Tyne) -a- brew- ach (as in the German "Achtung") is the Scottish Gaelic language name for "House on the hill) And an additional comment The burning question for the entries for 9 August is why on earth would the ocean-going cargo liner COLINA call at Tighnabruaich for 9 hours. The one-road village is amazingly small and strung out along a remote coastline, and has a small wooden pier which is occasionally used in the summer months by the excursion passenger vessels on the Clyde. There is no industry and certainly no Customs or Immigration and no Dock labour force. The village has a population of around 200 people. And, more pointedly, Tighnabruaich is situated in a narrow strait of water well off the shipping channel which ocean vessels would use on entering and leaving the Clyde. If anyone can solve the mystery of COLINA at Tighnabruaich please let us know using the "Contact us" button at the top of the page. |
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