Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

AUSTRALIS was leaving the Clyde (Scotland) after being a storage oil tanker at Finnart Oil Terminal

For six years the giant AUSTRALIS had been berthed at Jetty 3 at Finnart Oil Terminal in Loch Long, Scotland and acting as a storage tanker.   Now it was her time to leave.

   With tugs SVITZER HAWK and ANGLEGARTH stationed at the bow and tugs SVITZER WARDEN and SVITZER MILFORD positioned at the stern the four tugs pulled the 330m (1,083m) long tanker from the jetty and towed her at two knots through the long and narrow loch to meet the broad expanse of the Firth of Clyde off Barons Point and the town of Kilcreggan.

   There ANGLEGARTH and SVITZER MILFORD left the convoy.

AUSTRALIS slowly headed south towards the Cumbrae Heads which is the narrow entrance to the Clyde, between the Island of Little Cumbrae and the promontary of Garroch Head on the southern tip of the Isle of Bute.   Past the town of Dunoon on her starboard and the iconic Cloch Lighthouse to port.

Western Ferries' SOUND OF SCARBA, on her regular daily service from McInroy's Point, Gourock to Hunter's Quay skirted around and well ahead of the convoy and giving the passengers the amazing close view of the gigantic tanker, empty of cargo and riding high in the water, like a maritime eclipse blocking the horizon. 

   Tug SVITZER HAWK escorted at the tanker's bow and tug SVITZER WARDEN kept her tow line at the centre lead at AUSTRALIS's stern.   Both SVITZERS would leave the tanker shortly as she left the Clyde to commence her passage to Falmouth (England) for maintenance and repair.