Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

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.