Latest Events

This page shows the 100 latest events.

What/When	Ship
News Event Wednesday, January 8, 1964 @ 0800	GULLFOSS (1950-1973 Passenger / Cargo ship of Eimskip, Reykjavik)	Own Page
1964 : Advert for sailings by GULLFOSS from Leith (Scotland, UK) to Denmark and Iceland
Ship's location Leith (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Reykjavik (Iceland) Sailing for Denmark and Iceland Ships agent R. Cairns & Co., 8 Commercial Street, Leith (Scotland, UK) Telephone Leith 2431
News Event Friday, January 10, 1964 @ 1300 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	HMS TIPTOE (1944-1971 T-class P332 Submarine of Royal Navy, London) : scrapped 1975)	Own Page
1964 : British Royal Navy Submarine HMS TIPTOE goes aground off Greenock Esplanade, Scotland)
Ship's location Off Greenock Esplanade (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Admiralty (London, UK) Sailing for HMNB (= Her Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Tuesday, January 28, 1964 @ 1700	MATURATA (1955-1969 General cargo liner 472 feet long of T & J Brocklebank, Liverpool : 1972 scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan)	Own Page
MATURATA closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Malta, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Visak and Calcutta
Ship's location Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Sailing for Malta, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Visakhapatnam and Calcutta Net Tonnage 3,724 Outward cargo General cargo Gross Tonnage 7,365 Ships agent P. Henderson & Co. (Agencies) Ltd. 95 Bothwell Street, Glasgow C. 2. Tel CENtral 8761 Deadweght Tonnage 8,920
Brocklebank's MATURATA closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Malta, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Visakhapatnam and Calcutta Note : The ship's agent at Glasgow is P. Henderson & Co. (Agencies) Ltd. 95 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and is part of the Glasgow shipping company of P. Henderson (= often known as "Paddy Henderson") whose service ran from Glasgow and Liverpool to Rangoon, Burma (= in 1989 renamed as Myanmar)   Contributed image
News Event Tuesday, May 23, 1967 @ 0800		Own Page
1967 : Advert by BP Tanker Company, London for Third Navigating Officers
News Event Wednesday, May 13, 1964 @ 0600 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	CARINTHIA (1956-1968 Passenger / cargo liner 608 feet long of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
Cunard Line postcard of CARINTHIA arriving at Quebec == pronounced Kibb - eck (Canada) from UK
Ship's location Arriving at Quebec == pronounced Kibb - eck (Canada) from UK Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 21,947
News Event Tuesday, September 1, 2026 @ 0700		Own Page
September 2026 : Delays and £20m cost rise for new Turkish-built CalMac ferries
From BBC Scotland Online News 1 October 2026 Delays and £20m cost rise for new Turkish-built CalMac ferries  Image source,CMAL Image caption, MV Loch Indaal, the second of the four ships being built at the Cemre shipyard, is now due to be handed over on October       Project costs for the construction of new CalMac ferries being built in Turkey have risen by £20m as new delays are confirmed. State-owned ferries agency CMAL said MV Loch Indaal, the second of the four ships being built by the Cemre shipyard, is now expected to be delivered in October, about 20 months later than originally planned. The third and fourth ships, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, earmarked to serve the Western Isles, are now both due to be delivered in the first half of 2027. CMAL announced in June that it had paid in full for the uncompleted ships to help the Turkish shipyard, which was facing financial challenges. So far, only one of the four ships ordered from Cemre in 2022 and 2023 - MV Isle of Islay - has been delivered. The ship entered service on the Islay route in March, more than a year later than expected when the contract was signed, after a series of delays.       In an update on delivery schedules, CMAL's chief executive Kevin Hobbs told Holyrood's transport committee that MV Loch Indaal is now expected to be handed over in October. The ship will then make a journey of at least two weeks to Scotland, followed by weeks of crew familiarisation and berthing checks before entering service. In a letter to the committee, Hobbs said sea trials in Turkey for the third ship are planned for November, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2027. The final ship is due to be handed over in the following quarter. In a separate letter, Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn confirmed ministers had approved an extra £20m to cover extra project costs., external Flynn wrote: "CMAL continue robust monitoring through their on-site staff, as well as regular visits by senior management teams." BBC Scotland News understands CMAL also pays sub-contractors to provide shipbuilding supervision services on its behalf. Flynn said commercial sensitivities meant he was unable to reveal what extra costs had been incurred. The original contract prices for the four ships was about £200m in total.     Image source,CMAL Image caption, All the Turkish built ferries have been launched but require months of fitting out work and sea trials       Payments for shipbuilding contracts are usually made in instalments, with the final payment due upon delivery, but in June CMAL paid the outstanding £23m for the other three ships in full. The move was aimed at easing Cemre's cash flow pressures and meant CMAL had secured ownership of the incomplete vessels, avoiding potential complications should the shipyard go out of business. In a worst case scenario it could now tow them to another shipyard to be finished. Cemre is a large Turkish shipbuilder based at Yalova, but it has struggled in recent years with various challenges including falling exchange rates, supply chain difficulties, and labour shortages. MV Isle of Islay has faced a number of technical problems since entering service, including faulty bow doors and issues with its mezzanine deck, though CalMac has said it is satisfied with the vessel. MV Loch Indaal is expected to join it on the Islay route, while MV Lochmor and MV Claymore are due to serve Little Minch routes from Skye to Harris and North Uist.
News Event Tuesday, September 20, 1966 @ 2355	LAIRDSROCK (1947-1966 General cargo 2-hatch coaster 166 feet long of Burns & Laird Lines, Glasgow : Sank 1980 in Greek waters)	Own Page
LAIRDSROCK arrives in Ardrossan Harbour to load a cargo of steel for Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Arrived from Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Arrived in berth Eglinton Dock, Ardrossan Harbour, Scotland, UK Net Tonnage 234 Master of vessel on arrival G Bain Gross Tonnage 471 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Ships agent Burns & Laird Lines, Ardrossan Harbour
News Event Friday, April 30, 1965 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	IBERIA STAR (1963-1965 Passenger/cargo liner of Blue Star Line, London)	Own Page
1965 : Blue Star Line's IBERIA STAR left Las Palmas (Canary Islands) for London (England, UK)
Sailing for London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Las Palmas (Spanish city and capital of Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean)
Contributed by Charlie Atworth (London, England)
News Event Friday, April 30, 1965 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BRASIL STAR (1947-1972 Passenger / cargo liner of Blue Star Line, London)	Own Page
1965 : Blue Star Line's BRASIL STAR left Montevideo (Uruguay) for London (England, UK)
Sailing for London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Montevideo (Uruguay) Outward cargo Passengers and general cargo and chilled cargo
Contributed by Charlie Atworth (London, England)
News Event Saturday, May 1, 1965 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	URUGUAY STAR (1947-1972 Passenger / cargo ship of Blue Star Line, London : 1972 Scrapped)	Own Page
1965 : Blue Star Line's URUGUAY STAR left London (England) for Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Sailing for Buenos Aires (Argentina) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth London (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 10,723
Contributed by Charlie Atworth (London, England)
News Event Saturday, June 9, 1962 @ 1700	PRINS WILLEM 11 (1955-1967 General cargo ship of Oranje Line, Netherlands : 1975 destroyed by fire)	Own Page
1962 : PRINS WILLEM 11 closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Montreal (Canada) and Great Lakes
Ship's location Prince's Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Rotterdam (Netherlands) Sailing for Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo, Rochester, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago Gross Tonnage 1,960 Ships agent J. C. Peacock & Co. Ltd., 166 Buchanan Street, Glasgow C.1. Tel. DOUglas 7101
Contributed image by Hans Hasse
News Event Saturday, February 19, 1966 @ 2217	ROYAL ULSTERMAN (1936-1968 Passenger and cargo ship 339 feet long of Burns and Laird, Glasgow : 1973 Scrapped in Greece)	Own Page
1966 : Burns & Laird's ROYAL ULSTERMAN leaves Glasgow (Scotland) for Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Vessel Master Captain Douglas McCormick Port of Registry Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Sailing for Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Net Tonnage 1,449 Sailed from berth Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 3,288 Ships agent Burns & Laird Lines Ltd., 56 Robertson Street, Glasgow, C. 2. Tel. CENtral 6301 Deadweght Tonnage 854
News Event Monday, May 4, 1959 @ 0800 The date shown is as timetabled and the time shown is our best estimste	BENWYVIS (1955-1963 General cargo heavy lift ship 470 feet overall of William Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh : 1973 scrapped at Hong Kong))	Own Page
1959 : Ben Line's BENWYVIS laid up in Loch Linnhe (near Fort William (Highland area of Scotland)
Ship's location Loch Linnhe (sea loch 35 km (20 miles) long near Town of Fort William (Highland area of Scotland) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Wm Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 4,326 Gross Tonnage 7,838
Contributed by McLaren
News Event Friday, November 5, 1937 @ 0800	CILICIA (1938-40 Anchor Line passenger/cargo ship : 1940-44 Armed Merchant Cruiser : 1944-46 Troopship : 1946 Returned to owners : 1966-80 training ship / Hostel in Rotterdam : 1980 scrapped Bilbao)	Own Page
CILICIA : 1937 Some interior images on Anchor Line's new liner on UK to Karachi and Bombay Service
Sailing for Port Said (Egypt), Aden (Yemen), Karachi (Pakistan) and Bombay = now called Mumbai (India) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailed from berth Glasgow (Scotland, UK) and Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 11,136 Outward cargo Passengers and general cargo Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309
News Event Monday, May 16, 1955 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	IVERNIA (1955-1963 Passenger liner 608ft 3ins (185.39m) overall of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
1955 : Cunard's new transatlantic liner IVERNIA leaving John Brown's Shipyard at Clydebank
Ship's location Leaving John Brown's Shipyard at Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Ships agent Cunard Line, Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 21,717
Contributed by Jim Kilpatrick
News Event Friday, August 28, 2026 @ 1246	CELEBRITY (2022 > General cargo ship formerly SCOT TRADER IMO 9368405 : 89.5m overall of Faversham Ships Ltd., East Cowes, U.K).	Own Page
CELEBRITY passing Braehead Retail Centre, Glasgow, inward to berth at Diesel Wharf, Glasgow
Ship's location Passing Braehead Retail Centre, Glasgow, inward to berth at Diesel Wharf, Glasgow Port of Registry Peel (Isle of Man, UK) Arrived from Saint Malo (France) then waiting at anchor off Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) Gross Tonnage 2,956 Sailing for Diesel Wharf, Whiteinch, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 4,624 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Outward cargo To load a cargo of scrap metal
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 1707	STEN BALTIC (2005 > Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO 9307671 : 144.1m overall of Stenoil K/s - Lysaker, Norway)	Own Page
STEN BALTIC heading outbound and passing Greenock on passage to Antwerpen (= Antwerp, Belgium)
Ship's location Outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Madeira (Portugal) = Madeira International Register Arrived from Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 11,943 Sailing for Antwerpen (= Antwerp, Belgium) Deadweght Tonnage 16,607 Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board
STEN BALTIC is outbound for Antwerp / Antwerpen (Belgium) and is passing the cruise liner MAJESTIC PRINCESS at the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 1701	MESSINA (2002 --- Naval Museum ship / Training vessel IMO 8003709 : formerly 1982-2002 Naval Tender Pennant A 107 : 150 feet overall of Naval Museum, Hartlepool, England)	Own Page
MESSINA passing Custom House Quay, Greenock and heading outbound for Ardrossan Harbour
Ship's location Outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Hartlepool (England, UK) Arrived from Pontoon at Inchgreen Wall, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 117 Sailing for Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 1057	BARRA (in 2026 Police Patrol Boat : 14.9m overall of Ministry of Defence Police, London, UK)	Own Page
BARRA the Ministry of Defence Police Patrol boat passing Custom House Quay, Greenock
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for Great Harbour, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 0644	MAJESTIC PRINCESS (2017> Cruise Liner IMO 9614141 : 330m overall of Princess Cruises / Carnival Cruise Line, Doral, Florida, USA )	Own Page
MAJESTIC PRINCESS arriving in Firth of Clyde (Scotland) and approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal
Ship's location Arriving in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland) and approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal Port of Registry Hamilton (Bermuda) Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 144,216 Sailing for Cruise pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 11,277 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers
06:44 on 20 August 2026     Arriving from Liverpool (England, UK) the Cruise Liner MAJESTIC PRINCESS passes the Towns of Dunoon, Kames and Hunter's Quay (all in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland) on her way to the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Termina. 07:04   Passing the Town of Kilcreggan and Rosneath Peninsula (Firth of Clyde) and approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal 07:10   Starting to cant (= turn) to enable her to reverse to berth at the Cruise Pontoon  10:56   Berthed at the Cruise Pontoon
News Event Friday, August 21, 2026 @ 0835	AMBITION (2022 > Cruise liner IMO 9172777 : 216m overall of Ambassador Cruise Lines, London, UK)	Own Page
Death of man who went overboard from Cruise Liner AMBITION is "not suspicious"
Ship's location 36 nautical miles from Town of Arbroath (East Coast of Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Nassau (New Providence Island, Bahamas) Gross Tonnage 48,123 Deadweght Tonnage 4,923
From BBC Scotland Online News 24 August 2026   Death of man who went overboard from cruise ship AMBITION is 'not suspicious' Image caption, The MS Ambition docked in Dundee on Friday     The death of a man whose body was recovered after going overboard from a cruise ship off the east coast of Scotland is not being treated as suspicious, police have confirmed. The man was reported missing from Ambassador Cruise Lines vessel MS Ambition, about 36 nautical miles from Arbroath, at 08:35 on Friday. His body was recovered later that day following a major multi-agency search. The man's identity has not been released, but Police Scotland said his next of kin had been informed. Coastguard aircraft from Prestwick and Carlisle were scrambled to assist in the search along with a commercial search and rescue helicopter. Lifeboat crews from Anstruther and Broughty Ferry and Coastguard teams from Dundee, Arbroath and St Andrews also joined the operation. The ship had been on its return journey to Dundee from a solar eclipse cruise, with stops in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, when the incident happened. It docked in Lerwick before returning to the city on Friday. The ship left Dundee to sail to Newcastle shortly after 18:00.
News Event Sunday, August 8, 1971 @ 1600	CANBERRA (1961-1997 Passenger liner 820 feet (250 m) of P & O Line, London : 1997-8 Scrapped at Gadani Beach, Pakistan)	Own Page
1971 : P & O Liner CANBERRA "Fancy Dress Ball" Dinner Menu
Port of Registry London (England, U.K.)
News Event Friday, August 21, 2026 @ 1640	CALEDONIAN ISLES (1993- Passenger and vehicle ferry 308 feet 94m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Arran Ferry CALEDONIAN ISLES evacuated at Ardrossan Harbour over "Bomb Threat" after rescue at sea
Ship's location On passage from Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde) for Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Sailing for Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 5,221 Sailed from berth Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles
From BBC Scotland Online News 21 August 2026 Arran ferry CALEDONIAN ISLES evacuated over 'bomb threat' by passenger rescued from sea Image caption, Passengers were removed from the ferry on foot at Ardrossan harbour     A 23-year-old man has been arrested after a ferry service on Scotland's west coast was evacuated over a bomb threat. Operator CalMac said a passenger was reported overboard on the MV Caledonian Isles 16:40 service, carrying 329 people from Brodick on the Isle of Arran. The BBC understands that after being pulled from the sea by the ferry's rescue boat, the man then told crew that there was a bomb on board. All passengers were removed on foot at Ardrossan so the vessel could be searched. Police Scotland said it was established that the threats "were not credible".   The passengers and others waiting at the port were taken to a nearby supermarket car park by police while the search was carried out. After this was complete, officers allowed people back on board to collect their vehicles. Image caption, The MV Caledonian Isles berthed at Ardrossan after passengers were removed      A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We were made aware that a man had gone overboard and caused a disturbance and made threats when he was rescued. "A 23-year-old man has been arrested. The incident has since concluded and there is no threat to the wider public." Remaining sailings from Ardrossan were cancelled on Friday evening to allow crew to be debriefed and emergency equipment to be replenished An extra service to the island was added at 19:50 on the MV Alfred from nearby Troon. CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison said: "This was a fast-moving situation that was handled professionally by our crew, Ardrossan port staff and emergency services and I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to them." The operator said affected passengers who had bookings would be contacted by customer services. CalMac is the UK's largest ferry operator, running 29 routes across 200 miles of Scotland's west coast.
News Event Friday, August 21, 2026 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	GALLEON ANDALUCIA (2010 > Life-size replica Spanish Galleon : 51m overall )	Own Page
Spanish GALLEON ANDALUCIA on a courtesy visit at South Harbour Street, Ayr (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location South Harbour Street, Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Spain / Espana
Contributed by Ian and Margaret
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 1552	STEN NORDIC (2005 > Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO 9351567 : 144.10m overall of Stenoil K/s - Lysaker, Norway)	Own Page
STEN NORDIC passing Custom House Quay, Greenock and inbound for Fuel Terminal at Clydebank
Ship's location Inbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde) escorted by tug ANGLEGARTH Port of Registry Bergen (Norway) Arrived from Antwerpen (= Antwerp (Belgium) then waiting at anchor in Brodick Bay (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde) Gross Tonnage 11,935 Sailing for NuStar Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 16,657 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades
14:58   Tug ANGLEGARTH is passing Custom House Quay, Greenock and making her way to Fort Matilda to meet the incoming tanker STEN NORDIC 15:52   Inbound tanker STEN NORDIC is passing Greenock Ocean Terminal and the Cruise Liner MAJESTIC PRINCESS is at the Cruise Pontoon Tug ANGLEGARTH is close astern Tug ANGLEGARTH following astern
News Event Thursday, August 20, 2026 @ 1540	FANARIA ( 2018 > Bulk Carrier IMO 9228421 : 149.17m overall of Blue Marine Management, Manila, Philippines)	Own Page
FANARIA passing Custom House Quay, Greenock with a cargo of cement from Yesilovacik (Turkey)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Panama Arrived from Yesilovacik (Turkey) Gross Tonnage 11,395 Sailing for Berth 2, King George V Dock, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 19,092 Cargo carried on arrival Cement
News Event Tuesday, August 18, 2026 @ 0927	WAVERLEY (1974 > Excursion paddle steamer 240 feet long of Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd)	Own Page
2026 : WAVERLEY's destination board as she prepares to leave Ayr on an excursion cruise
Ship's location South Harbour Street, Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 693
Contributed by Veronika
News Event Tuesday, August 18, 2026 @ 0931	GALLEON ANDALUCIA (2010 > Life-size replica Spanish Galleon : 51m overall )	Own Page
2026 : Life-size replica Spanish GALLEON ANDALUCIA at Port of Ayr (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Berth 3, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Spain / Espana
Contributed by Veronika
News Event Saturday, May 28, 2022 @ 1541	TYPHOO ATLANTIC CHALLENGER (in 1990 a strange scarlet coloured steel bottle shaped boat 37 feet 11.28m overall engine and sail powered of Tom McClean)	Own Page
TYPHOO ATLANTIC CHALLENGER bottle shaped boat sailed from New York to Falmouth (England)
Ship's location Underwater Centre, Fort William (Scottish Highlands, Scotland, UK)
Contributed by Robert McManus Typhoo Atlantic Challenger The "Big Red Bottle Boat" (officially named the Typhoo Atlantic Challenger) is a famous 37-foot-long, scarlet, bottle-shaped steel vessel built by Scottish adventurer and former SAS soldier Tom McClean.  In 1990, McClean famously sailed this bizarre craft solo across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Falmouth, England, taking 37 days to complete the journey. The voyage successfully raised over £700,000 for the National Children's Home charity.   It was constructed out of a modified steel storage tank measuring 11 metres (37 feet) long with a diameter of 2.2 metres.  Powered by a small motor and sail, it was incredibly stable but notoriously slow, averaging just 3.5 knots (about 4 mph).    Seen here ashore at Fort William, Scotland 28th May 2022 @ 15:41   Sitting outside the Underwater Centre in Fort William is a strange bottle-shaped scarlet boat. This 37 ft steel vessel is the record-breaking Typhoo Atlantic Challenger designed by former Scottish SAS adventurer Tom McClean. In 1990, Tom McClean launched himself from New York in this unusual vessel powered by engine and sail for his fifth solo Atlantic crossing, reaching Falmouth 37 days later, making him the first person ever do the journey in a bottle! The boat was very stable, but only travelled at 3.5 knots. “The main problem was the winds blowing the wrong way,” said McClean, who did not get much chance to enjoy the use the oak four-poster bed he had installed inside: “because of the movement of the craft, I had to sleep sideways in it to stop falling off, so I only slept about 90 minutes each night." McClean used the trip to raise over £700 000 for the British charity ‘National Children’s Home’. McClean's previous voyages on the 2,950-mile route including solo crossing by rowing boat in 1969 and 1987 and in the then world's smallest yacht, only 7 feet 9 inches long, in 1982, a feat he repeated in 1983 with a yacht two feet shorter!
News Event Monday, August 17, 2026 @ 1653 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	COMET (2026 > New replica of original steam-boat and installed in Town of Port Glasgow)	Own Page
2026 : New replica of steam-boat COMET installed at Town of Port Glasgow (Firth of Clyde, Scotland)
Ship's location Port Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
Contributed by Robert McManus    The PS Comet was Europe's first commercially successful passenger steamship, built in Port Glasgow by John Wood & Sons for the engineer Henry Bell in 1812. The historic vessel revolutionized maritime transport and kickstarted the River Clyde’s era as a global shipbuilding powerhouse.  The Original PS Comet (1812) Launched in August 1812, it carried passengers between Glasgow, Greenock, and Helensburgh. It was roughly the size of a modern-day bus, possessed a 4-horsepower engine, and utilized a funnel that doubled as a mast for sails.  Named after the Great Comet of 1811, which had been visible in the night sky for 260 days.  The ship was wrecked in December 1820 near Oban, Scotland. Its original engine is preserved in London's Science Museum, while the underwater wreck site holds protected status.  Because Port Glasgow takes immense pride in its connection to the vessel, full-sized models have long served as a town landmark. The 1962 Replica, built by local shipyard apprentices to mark the ship's 150th anniversary, this version was actually seaworthy. It sat on public display in the town centre for decades but was dismantled after its timber rotted beyond repair.  The 2026 Static Model, a brand new, £540,000 replica was officially unveiled in the town centre during the Port Glasgow Comet Festival. Built by specialist model-makers Aivaf Ltd, this version is designed as a long-lasting outdoor sculpture. It features a robust marine-grade stainless steel frame, rot-resistant modified timber, internal drainage holes, and a distinct coppery hue on the hull to accurately match the original ship's copper bottom.
News Event Thursday, April 12, 1962 @ 0600	DEVONIA (1962 - 1967 an educational cruise ship carrying passengers 517 feet long of British India Line, London : 1968 scrapped La Spezia, Italy)	Own Page
1962 : British India Liner DEVONIA travels from Glasgow to Greenock without assistance of tugs
Ship's location Plantation Quay, Glasgow and sailing down the Clyde to Tail of the Bank anchorage off Greenock Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Arrived from Elderslie Drydock, Scotstoun, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 7,166 Sailing for Liverpool (England, UK) then cruise to Corunna (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal) and Vigo (Spain) Gross Tonnage 12,795 Outward cargo Light ship = no passengers on board Ships agent General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., 91 Bothwell Street, Glasgow
12 April 1962 This outstanding example of ship-handling -- without tugs -- shows the absolute ability, professionalism and competence of Clyde Pilots. At 13:50 on 4 April DEVONIA, assisted by tugs FLYING TEMPEST and FLYING METEOR, arrived at Plantation Quay, Glasgow from Elderslie Drydock and berthed at Plantation with her head east (= with her bow pointing upriver towards the City).    She berthed just where the present-day (= 2026) BBC Scotland Studios are at Pacific Quay.   On 12 April the crews of Clyde Shipping Company and Steel and Bennie tugs were on strike for better pay and conditions, and vessels were held up from arriving and sailing from Glasgow.   And so at 04:15 on 12 April the Clyde Pilot on the Liner DEVONIA ... without the assistance of tugs ... left the berth and manoeuvered the vessel into the River ....  and came astern (= backwards) in the narrow channel to the entrance to Prince's Dock and put the stern into the Dock and canted (= turned) her a full 180 degrees to port (= turned to the left) so that she now was pointing downriver.   It was now 06:00 and DEVONIA then, at dead slow speed, passed Yorkhill, Meadowside, King George V Dock, Rothesay Dock, etc. and made her way downriver to Greenock.
News Event Saturday, April 18, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENATTOW (1950-1963 General cargo liner 446 feet long (formerly PEGU) of William Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh)	Own Page
1959 : Ben Line's BENATTOW to leave Grangemouth for Penang, Port Swettenham, Singapore and Bangkok
Ship's location Grangemouth (Firth of Forth, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Penang, Port Swettenham, Singapore and Bangkok Net Tonnage 4,756 Outward cargo General cargo Gross Tonnage 7,838 Ships agent Ben Line, Edinburgh (Scotland) and General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., 91 Bothwell Street, Glasgow
News Event Wednesday, April 8, 1959 @ 1700	FANAD HEAD (1940-1961 General cargo ship 424 feet long of Ulster Steam Ship Company / G Heyn & Sons Ltd / Head Line, Belfast)	Own Page
1959 : FANAD HEAD closes at Yorkhill, Glasgow for receiving cargo for New York and Baltimore (USA)
Ship's location Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Belfast (Northern Ireland) Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK and Baltimore (Maryland, USA) Net Tonnage 3,007 Outward cargo General cargo Gross Tonnage 5,038 Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309 Deadweght Tonnage 8,382
The ship is named after Fanad Head, a peninsula that lies between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay on the north coast of County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland
News Event Wednesday, April 22, 1959 @ 1700	TAHSINIA (1946-1959 General cargo ship of Anchor Line, Glasgow)	Own Page
1959 : TAHSINIA closes at Yorkhill, Glasgow for receiving cargo for New York and Baltimore (USA)
Ship's location Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK and Baltimore (Maryland, USA) Gross Tonnage 5,680 Outward cargo General cargo Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309
Anchor Line Head Office, Anchor Line Building, 12-16 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, C.1.   The building was opened in 1907. and TAHSINIA (1948-1959)
News Event Thursday, April 9, 1959 @ 1700	EUCADIA (1946-1963 General cargo liner of Anchor Line, Glasgow)	Own Page
1959 : EUCADIA closes at Yorkhill, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) for receiving cargo for Aden and Bombay
Ship's location Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Sailing for Aden and Bombay Outward cargo General cargo Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309
News Event Friday, April 3, 1959 @ 1700	CILICIA (1938-40 Anchor Line passenger/cargo ship : 1940-44 Armed Merchant Cruiser : 1944-46 Troopship : 1946 Returned to owners : 1966-80 training ship / Hostel in Rotterdam : 1980 scrapped Bilbao)	Own Page
1959 : CILICIA closes at Birkenhead for receiving cargo for Port Said, Aden, Karachi and Bombay
Ship's location Birkenhead (England, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Port Said, Aden, Karachi and Bombay Gross Tonnage 11,136 Outward cargo Passengers and general cargo Ships agent Anchor Line Limited, Royal Liver Building, Liverpool
News Event Thursday, April 2, 1959 @ 1700	CLAN ROSS (1956-1961 General cargo ship of Clan Line / Houston Line, Glasgow)	Own Page
1959 : CLAN ROSS closes at Newport (South Wales, UK) for receiving cargo for South and East Africa
Ship's location Newport (South Wales, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Sailing for Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Lourenco Marques and Beira Gross Tonnage 7,698 Outward cargo General cargo
Contributed image
News Event Monday, July 6, 2026 @ 1301	CORRINGHAM (2005 > Tug IMO 9316414 : 32m overall of Targe Towing, Montrose, Scotland, UK)	Own Page
Tug CORRINGHAM in the Firth of Forth (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Firth of Forth (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Dundee (Scotland, UK) Reg Tonnage 260 Gross Tonnage 374
Contributed by Robert McManus The Corringham is a highly powerful commercial harbour and terminal tug boat operating primarily out of Dundee and the Firth of Forth. It is owned and operated by Targe Towing Ltd (a subsidiary of Forth Ports). Vessel Profile & Capabilities Design & Build: It is a Damen ASD Tug 3211 built in 2005 at the Damen Shipyard Gorinchem in the Netherlands. Propulsion: Equipped with twin MAK 6M25 main engines delivering 5,310 brake horsepower (bhp). Manoeuvrability: Uses twin Rolls-Royce Aquamaster azimuth thrusters with controllable pitch propellers, allowing 360-degree vector thrust and precise handling. Towing Power: It features an impressive ahead bollard pull of 66.7 tonnes and 64 tonnes astern.
News Event Wednesday, April 1, 1959 @ 1000		Own Page
1959 : David MacBrayne Ltd. advert for cargo services from Glasgow to West Highlands and Islands
Ship's location Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Ships agent David MacBrayne Ltd., Clyde House, 44 Robertson Street, Glasgow, C.2. Telephone CENtral 9231
News Event Wednesday, April 8, 1959 @ 1700	CITY OF HEREFORD (1958-1971 General cargo liner of Ellerman Hall Line, London)	Own Page
1959 : CITY OF HEREFORD closes for receiving cargo for Egypt, Aden, India and East Pakistan
Ship's location Birkenhead (England, UK) Port of Registry London Sailing for Port Said, Suez, Aden, Visakhapatnam, Calcutta and Chalna Gross Tonnage 4,954 Outward cargo General cargo Deadweght Tonnage 7,610 Ships agent Hall Line Ltd., Tower Building, Water Street, Liverpool, 3 Telephone Central 8444
News Event Tuesday, August 11, 2026 @ 1000	HMS AMBUSCADE (1975-1993 Type 21 Frigate : Pennant F172 : 384 ft (117 m) overall of Royal Navy, London, UK )	Own Page
HMS AMBUSCADE
Port of Registry Admiralty, London (England, UK)
From BBC Scotland Online News 11 August 2026 Warship HMS AMBUSCADE earmarked as River Clyde museum threatened with destruction  Image source,Ambuscade Association Image caption, HMS Ambuscade was built on the Clyde in 1975   A former Royal Navy warship which served in the Falklands War could be destroyed if campaigners fail to raise £2m to bring it back to Scotland. HMS Ambuscade was built at the Yarrow shipyard in Glasgow in 1975 and was part of the Royal Navy's fleet until 1993 when it was sold to Pakistan. It was used to rescue 377 tourists in the Maldives during the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, by which time it had been renamed PNS Tariq. The charity Clyde Naval Heritage (CNH) wants to bring the Type 21 frigate back to the River Clyde and turn it into a floating museum - but the Pakistan Navy has now ordered the vessel to leave Karachi by the end of September amid soaring transfer costs. The £2m required is nearly double the figure originally needed, largely because insurance costs have gone up due to the conflict between the US and Iran. Shipping has been significantly impacted since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year, and there have been a number of attacks on vessels on the alternative waterway through the Red Sea. CNH chief executive David O'Neill said the Pakistan Navy told him they would "dispose" of HMS Ambuscade if she is not removed by September and the immediate circumstances were not looking hopeful. "We cited the continuing attacks on shipping, UK government advice and international shipping advice not to transit, but they don't accept this," he said.   O'Neill signed a deal with the Pakistan Navy in September 2023, transferring the ship to him on the basis that he took Ambuscade back to Scotland. His vision was to have the ship permanently berthed near the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock and turn it into a museum paying tribute to the Clyde shipbuilding industry. He also wanted to give the Pakistani community a cultural landmark in Scotland. O'Neill said he is still engaged with both Inverclyde Council and Glasgow City Council, both of which have endorsed his museum plans. But he warned it is unlikely he will be able to raise £2m in such a short period of time, as conflicts have put an end to a previous sponsorship branding plan. If Ambuscade is destroyed, O'Neill said it would represent a "quiet fading" of Scottish heritage. "For the Clyde, it would mean the loss of a new tourism site with all of the heritage, cultural, jobs, economic benefits and education prospects," he added.   Image source,Ambuscade Association Image caption, HMS Ambuscade had all distinguishing marks removed during the Falklands War In 2014, HMS Plymouth - another of the last surviving warships from the Falklands War campaign - was towed out to sea from the River Mersey to be destroyed despite a campaign to save it. The ship, which played a key role in the recapture of South Georgia from Argentinian troops in April 1982, was decommissioned in 1988. At the time Peel Ports, which owned the dock in Birkenhead where the ship was berthed for years, said it had "no practical choice but to dispose of her responsibly" but did not confirm the vessel's final destination. Ambuscade is the second Clyde-built ship O'Neill has attempted to rescue in recent years before running into difficulties. He campaigned to bring the Falls of Clyde back to Scotland from Hawaii, where the Victorian sailing ship had been moored as a museum in the 1960s before falling into disrepair.
News Event Wednesday, April 1, 1959 @ 0100 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CONSTITUTION ( 1951-1974 Ocean Liner 208.01 m (682 ft 5 in) overall of American Export Lines : 1997 sank north of Hawaii )	Own Page
1959 : American Export Liner CONSTITUTION arrives at New York after severe storm in North Atlantic
Ship's location North Atlantic Ocean Port of Registry New York (USA) Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK ... all in one quick word Net Tonnage 11,229 Gross Tonnage 23,754 Deadweght Tonnage 7,250
News Event Sunday, March 29, 1959 @ 0100 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BREMEN (1959-1971 Passenger liner of North German LLoyd, Bremen))	Own Page
1959 : Four seamen on German Liner BREMEN perished during severe storm in North Atlantic
Ship's location North Atlantic Ocean Port of Registry Bremen (Germany) Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK ... all in one quick word Outward cargo 500 Passengers
Contributed image by C, W & C
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	DILWARA (1936-1960 Troopship of British India Steam Navigation Company, London)	Own Page
1959 : DILWARA left Limassol (Cyprus) with Military Personnel for Southampton (England, UK)
Sailing for Southampton (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Limassol (Cyprus) Outward cargo Military Personnel
Contributed by C, W & C
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800	HUBERT (1954-1964 General cargo ship of Booth Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
1959 : HUBERT from Liverpool is at Barbados
Ship's location Barbados Port of Registry Liverpool Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 8,062
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate		Own Page
1959 : Harrison Line's INTERPRETER from Mobile (Houston, Texas, USA) at Liverpool (England, UK)
Ship's location Liverpool (England, UK) Arrived from Mobile (Houston, Texas, USA)
News Event Sunday, May 10, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	MAHSEER (1948-1975 General cargo ship 508 feet long of T & J Brocklebank, Liverpool : scrapped 1975))	Own Page
1959 : Brocklebank's MAHSEER left Middlesbrough (England) outward bound for Calcutta (India)
Sailing for Calcutta (India) Port of Registry Liverpool Sailed from berth Middlesbrough (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 8,945
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	MIDDLESEX (1953-1965 General cargo ship of Federal Steam Navigation Co., London)	Own Page
1959 : MIDDLESEX Left Suez Canal (Egypt) outward bound for Brisbane (Australia)
Ship's location Left Suez Canal (Egypt) outward bound for Brisbane (Australia) Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Sailing for Brisbane (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) Gross Tonnage 8,284 Sailed from berth Suez Canal (Egypt)
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	NUDDEA (1954-1972 General cargo liner of British India Steam Navigation Company, London : Scrapped in 1972)	Own Page
1959 : NUDDEA passing Gravesend (Thames Estuary, England) outward bound for Brisbane (Australia)
Ship's location Passing Gravesend (Thames Estuary, England) outward bound for Brisbane (Australia) Port of Registry London (UK) Sailing for Brisbane (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia) Gross Tonnage 8,596
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	PARTHIA (1948-1961 Passenger / cargo liner of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
1959 : PARTHIA left Liverpool (England) for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK
Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK ... all in one quick word Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Sailed from berth Liverpool (England, UK) Ships agent Cunard Line, Liverpool (England, UK)
News Event Friday, August 7, 2026 @ 1850		Own Page
Youtube film : Blue Funnel Voyages and Voices, volume 2 : colour film 56 minutes long
Contributed by Suzanne.    This film can be found on Youtube by keying ...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnncRIYYBY
News Event Friday, June 3, 1966 @ 0840	DUCHESS OF HAMILTON ( 1932-1971 Passenger excursion steamer 272 feet long with triple screws of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock)	Own Page
DUCHESS OF HAMILTON leaves Craigendoran on an excursion cruise to Ayr
Ship's location Craigendoran (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Sailing for Leave for Gourock, Dunoon, Wemyss Bay, Rothesay, Largs, Millport Keppel, Brodick and Ayr Net Tonnage 297 Outward cargo Passengers Gross Tonnage 801 Ships agent Caledonian Steam Packet Company Ltd., Gourock, Scotland, UK Deadweght Tonnage 155
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ACCRA (1947- 1967 Passenger / cargo liner 453 feet long of Elder Dempster Lines, Liverpool))	Own Page
ACCRA from Lagos (Nigeria) at Freetown (Sierra Leone, West Africa)
Ship's location Freetown (Sierra Leone, West Africa) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Arrived from Lagos (Nigeria)
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	AMERICAN GUNNER (in 1959 General cargo ship / freighter of United States Lines, New York)	Own Page
AMERICAN GUNNER left Gravesend (England, UK) outward bound for Boston (Massachussetts, USA)
Ship's location Left Gravesend (England, UK) outward bound for Boston (Massachussetts, USA) Port of Registry New York, USA Sailing for Boston (Massachussetts, USA)
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ARGENTINA STAR (1947-1972 Refrigerated cargo/passenger liner of Blue Star Line, London)	Own Page
ARGENTINA STAR passing Dover (England, UK) outward bound for Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Ship's location Passing Dover (England, UK) outward bound for Buenos Aires (Argentina) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for Buenos Aires (Argentina) Net Tonnage 6,299 Gross Tonnage 10,716
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BENLAWERS (1944-1968 General cargo ship 475 feet long of Ben Line / William Thomson Company, Edinburgh)	Own Page
BENLAWERS left Bangkok (Thailand) homeward bound for London (England, UK)
Sailing for London (England, UK) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Bangkok (Thailand) Net Tonnage 4,646 Gross Tonnage 7,804
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CANTON (1938-1939 Passenger / cargo liner of P & O Line, London :1939-1944 Armed Merchant Cruiser : 1944-1947 Troopship : 1947- 1962 Returned to owners :Scrapped 1962)	Own Page
P & O Liner CANTON left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for London (England, UK)
Ship's location Left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for London (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 15,784
News Event Thursday, August 6, 2026 @ 1559 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	RED BARONESS (In 2017 Steel twin screw RO-RO cargo landing craft of Troon Tug Company, Troon)	Own Page
RED BARONESS at Old Dock, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Old Dock, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Troon (Scotland, U.K.) Ships agent Troon Tug Company Limited, The Harbour, Troon (Ayrshire, Scotland, UK)
Contributed by Robert McManus And some information The Red Baroness The Red Baroness primarily refers to  a versatile UK-flagged multi-use landing craft operated by the Troon Tug Co Ltd, though the name is also shared by an older international general cargo ship. Vessel Profiles: Troon Tug Landing Craft. Type: Multi-use landing craft / cargo Flag: United Kingdom Dimensions: Length overall (LOA) of 28 metres (92 ft) and a width of 7 metres (23 ft). Home port/ base,Troon, Scotland Main Uses  Cargo Transport designed to move freight and supplies to and from remote coastel areas. Shore Access: Features a landing craft design that can beach or load in locations lacking standard pier or dock infrastructure. Frequently utilized for regional civil engineering projects and moving bulk materials like timber along the west coast of Scotland.
News Event Tuesday, March 22, 1955 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	WARLIGHT (1919-1964 Steam engined general cargo Crinan Canal size Clyde puffer 86 feet long of Light Shipping / Ross & Marshall, Greenock)	Own Page
1955 : Clyde Puffer WARLIGHT diary from 26 February to 10 April
Ships agent Ross & Marshall Ltd., 98 West George Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel DOUglas 4294 Port of Registry Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, U.K.) Net Tonnage 60 Gross Tonnage 135
1955   Clyde Puffer Lighter WARLIGHT 26 February   At Queen's Dock, Glasgow loaded Coke,Coal and Bricks for Portree (Isle of Skye) for account of Neil Beaton Ltd.    Bunkered 9 tons 18 hundredweights of coal (= loaded the coal to burn to power her steam engine)   27 February   On passage to Portree (Isle of Skye) 28 February   On passage to Portree (Isle of Skye)     In Crinan Canal   1 March   On passage to Portree (Isle of Skye)    2 March   At Portree :  discharging her cargo   3 March   At Portree :  discharging her cargo   4 March   At Fort William, loading Lime and Hay for Armadale and Portree (both in Isle of Skye) for account of Scottish Agricultural Industries.    Bunkered with coal   5 March   On passage to Armadale and Portree (both in Isle of Skye)   6 March   At Armadale.   Being Sunday no discharging was started.   7 March   At Armadale.   Discharging cargo   8 March   On passage to Portree (Isle of Skye)   9 March   At Portree (Isle of Skye).   Discharging cargo    10 March   On passage to Loch Sunart (= the longest sea-loch in the Scottish Highlands, is 31 kilometers (19 miles) long and is situated just north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula.        11 March    On passage to Loch Sunart    12 March   At Loch Sunart.   Loading / dredging sand for Greenock for account of Ross & Marshall Ltd.   13 March   At Loch Sunart.   Loading / dredging sand   14 March   At Loch Sunart.   Loading / dredging sand   15 March   On passage to Greenock   16 March   On passage through Crinan Canal for Greenock   17 March   At Basin of James Watt Dock. Greenock.   Discharging her cargo of sand.   18 March   At Troon (Firth of Clyde) loading 149 tons 7 hundredweights of coal for Portree (Isle of Skye) for account of Neil Beaton Ltd.   Bunkered 11 tons 5 hundredweights of coal (= to power her steam engine)   19 March   On passage to Portree (Isle of Skye)   20 March   Travelled through Crinan Canal and continued on passage to Portree (Isle of Skye)   21 March   Arrived at Portree p.m.   22 March   At Portree discharging her cargo of coal   23 March   At Portree discharging her cargo of coal   24 March   At Portree discharging her cargo of coal   25 March   On passage to Loch Sunart.   Called at Mallaig (Scottish Highlands) and bunkered with 7 tons and 3 hundredweights of coal (= to power the engine).   Expanding 1 tube in boiler.   26 March   At Loch Sunart (= the longest sea-loch in the Scottish Highlands, is 31 kilometers (19 miles) long and is situated just north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula.  Loading sand from the Loch.       27 March   At Loch Sunart.   Loading / dredging sand for Greenock for account of Ross & Marshall Ltd. 28 March   At Loch Sunart.   Loading / dredging sand   29 March   On passage for Greenock and through Crinan Canal   30 March   On passage to Greenock   31 March   At the Basin of James Watt Dock, Greenock.   Discharging her cargo of sand.   1 April   At Prince's Dock, Glasgow.  Loaded poles etc. for Lochboisdale and Eriskay, for account of J. Scott & Sons.       Lochboisdale is the main village and port on the island of South Uist, Outer Hebrides. And Eriskay is a small island to the south of South Uist, the image showing crofts (= tiny farms)    2 April   At Greenock.   Tubes in boiler giving trouble.   Blown down for expansion   3 April   On passage for Lochboisdale and Eriskay.   4 April   On passage for Lochboisdale and Eriskay   5 April  On passage for Lochboisdale and Eriskay   At Isle of Canna   6,7,8 and 9 April   Still at Isle of Canna   10 April   Arrived at Lochboisdale at p.m.
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CITY OF OXFORD (in 1959 General cargo ship of Ellerman Lines, London)	Own Page
CITY OF OXFORD from Middlesbrough (England, UK) at East London (South Africa)
Ship's location East London (South Africa) Port of Registry UK Arrived from Middlesbrough (England, UK)
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CITY OF PHILADELPHIA (in 1959 General cargo ship of Ellerman Lines, London)	Own Page
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for Cardiff (Wales, UK)
Ship's location Left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for Cardiff (Wales, UK) Port of Registry UK Sailing for Cardiff (Wales, UK)
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	PENDENNIS CASTLE (1958-1976 Passenger / cargo liner of Union Castle Line, London)	Own Page
1959 : PENDENNIS CASTLE from Southampton (England, UK) at Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
Ship's location Port Elizabeth (South Africa) Port of Registry London Arrived from Southampton (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 28,582
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ROCHESTER CASTLE (1937-1970 Cargo liner of Union Castle Line, London)	Own Page
1959 : ROCHESTER CASTLE from East London (South Africa) at Southampton (England, UK)
Ship's location Southampton (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from East London (South Africa) Gross Tonnage 7,795 Ships agent Union Castle Line, Canute Road, Southampton (England, UK) Telephone Southampton 23121
News Event Thursday, May 14, 1959 @ 2300 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	BROOMPARK (1959 > 1968 General cargo ship IMO 5053802 : of Denholm Line Steamers, Glasgow : Sank 1981 )	Own Page
1959 : Denholm's new ship BROOMPARK leaves Greenock on her maiden voyage to Cuba
Ship's location Deep Water Berth, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Cuba Gross Tonnage 7,965 Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board Deadweght Tonnage 12,163
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ROMNEY (1952-1978 General cargo ship 472 feet long of Lamport & Holt Line, Liverpool :1978 Scrapped)	Own Page
1959 : Lamport & Holt's ROMNEY left Liverpool (England, UK) for Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Sailing for Buenos Aires (Argentina) Port of Registry Liverpool (England) Sailed from berth Left Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 8,237
News Event Thursday, May 21, 1959 @ 1700	ALHAMA (1953-1962 General cargo ship 335 feet long of John Bruce Company / Mossgiel Shipping, Glasgow : 1974 scrapped)	Own Page
ALHAMA closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Marseilles, Genoa, Leghorn, Naples and Sicily
Ship's location Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Marseilles (France), Genoa, Leghorn and Naples and Sicily (all Italy) Net Tonnage 1,170 Outward cargo General cargo Gross Tonnage 2,346 Ships agent John Bruce & Co. (Shipping) Ltd., 45 Renfield Street, Glasgow, C.2. (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 3,500
News Event Friday, May 15, 1959 @ 1900	MAIHAR (1917-1961 General cargo liner of T & J Brocklebank, Liverpool)	Own Page
1959 : Docker killed and another injured as Brocklebank's MAIHAR discharges cargo at Greenock
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Coconut fibres and bags of cotton seed
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	STRATHMORE (1935-1963 Passenger Liner of P & O, London)	Own Page
P & O Liner STRATHMORE from Sydney at Fremantle (Western Australia)
Ship's location At Fremantle (Western Australia) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from Sydney (Australia) Gross Tonnage 23,580 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers Outward cargo Passengers
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	STRATHNAVER (1931-1962 Passenger liner of P & O Line, London)	Own Page
P & O Liner STRATHNAVER left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for London (England, UK)
Ship's location Left Port Said (Egypt) homeward bound for London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for London (England, UK)
News Event Wednesday, September 8, 2010 @ 1256	GLENLEE (1992 > (locally known as the Tall Ship) a 3-masted barque 245.34 feet (74.83 m) long and a static floating museum ship at Riverside Museum, Glasgow)	Own Page
GLENLEE was passing Clydebank and inbound for Riverside Museum (Pointhouse, Glasgow)
Ship's location Passing Clydebank and inbound for Riverside Museum (Pointhouse, Glasgow) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Riverside Museum (Pointhouse, Glasgow Sailed from berth Garvel Drydock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Contributed by Robert McManus GLENLEE on tow to Glasgow on 08/09/2010 @ 12:56 after her visit to Garvel dry dock 18/08/2010 for restoration and hull refurbishment.
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 0800	SURREY (1952-1969 Refrigerated cargo liner of Federal Steam Navigation Company, London)	Own Page
1959 : Federal Steam Navigation's SURREY is at Liverpool (England) from Bluff (New Zealand)
Ship's location Liverpool (England, UK) Port of Registry London (UK) Arrived from Bluff (South Island, New Zealand)
News Event Sunday, May 10, 1959 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	UMTATA (1944-1960 Passenger /cargo liner of Bullard King's Natal Direct Line, London)	Own Page
1959 : UMTATA left Middlesbrough (England, UK) for South Africa
Sailing for South Africa Port of Registry London (UK) Sailed from berth Middlesbrough (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 7,288
News Event Saturday, May 9, 1959 @ 1100 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	COUNTESS OF BREADALBANE (1936-1971 Passenger ferry / excursion vessel 91 feet long of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock)	Own Page
1959 : COUNTESS OF BREADALBANE leaves Paisley Harbour for a cruise on the River Clyde
Ship's location Paisley Harbour (River Cart, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Outward cargo Passengers
Contributed by C, W & C. Must have been an exciting occasion, being the first cruise from Paisley in 50 years (so must have been around 1909)       Notice the Company pennant flag at the top of the mast and the ship is dressed overall with signal flags.
News Event Friday, July 31, 2026 @ 1329	ISLE OF ARRAN (1984- Passenger and vehicle ferry 84.9m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF ARRAN at Berth 3, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Berth 3, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) .... with her head west Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Ltd., Gourock Pier, Scotland Gross Tonnage 3,296
Contributed by Veronika
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 1417	YM SATURN (2007 > Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO 9362138 : 148m overall of Yilmar / Huishi (tianjin) Shipping Leasing Co Ltd - Istanbul, Turkey	Own Page
YM SATURN passing Custom House Quay, Greenock outward bound for Milford Haven (Wales, UK)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Valletta (Malta) Arrived from NuStar Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 10,917 Sailing for Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 15,988 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board
News Event Saturday, July 2, 1955 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	TALISMAN (1935-1967 Passenger paddle steamer of Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock)	Own Page
Postcard of paddle steamer TALISMAN (1935-1967) in Clyde waters (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Clyde waters (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Ships agent Caledonian Steam Packet Company Ltd., Gourock, Scotland, UK
Contributed by Sandy (Skelmorlie)
News Event Monday, July 27, 2026 @ 1405	HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC (1994 > Halifax-class Frigate Pennant FFH 332 : Length 134.2 m (440 ft 3 in) overall of Royal Canadian Navy)	Own Page
HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC heading outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Royal Canadian Navy Arrived from Berth 6 King George V Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) .... assisted by tug AYTON CROSS
An interesting little note.   Quebec is the largest Province in Canada by area.   It's official language is French, and it is pronounced as " Kibek " Following is tug AYTON CROSS In this final image, from left to right, are at the container cranes :  the black hull is LYSVIK SEAWAYS and tucked-in behind her with the buff / yellow funnel is container ship HEINRICH EHLER then between the container cranes and the Frigate ... the tiny blue / brown dot ... is the Pilot Cutter SKUA which is waiting to land the Pilot from the Frigate and of course the Frigate and following is the tug AYTON CROSS
News Event Sunday, July 26, 2026 @ 1427	WAALDIJK (2010 > General cargo ship IMO 9514937 : 89.95m overall of Navigia Shipmanagement Bv - Winschoten, Netherlands )	Own Page
WAALDIJK at Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Groningen (The Netherlands) Arrived from Gibraltar having left there at 13:59 on 20 July Gross Tonnage 2,984 Cargo carried on arrival Bulk cargo Deadweght Tonnage 4,891
Contributed by Veronika
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 1007	WAVERLEY (1974 > Excursion paddle steamer 240 feet long of Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd)	Own Page
WAVERLEY leaving Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Leaving Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailed from berth Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 693 Outward cargo Passengers Ships agent Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
WAVERLEY was leaving Greenock at 10:00 on an excursion cruise due at  Largs 11:35 Rothesay 12:25 Tighnabruaich  13:30 Tarbert  14:40 then a cruise to lower Loch Fyne and Skipness Bay and returning to Tarbert  16:20 Tighnabruaich  17:30 Rothesay  18:30 Largs  19:10 Greenock  20:00   WAVERLEY is passing the German Cruise Liner MEIN SCHIFF 2 (= translated as "MY SHIP 2) which is berthed at the Cruise Pontoon at Greenock Ocean Terminal
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 0945	MEIN SCHIFF 2 ( 2019 > Cruise Liner IMO 9783576 : 2,894 passengers 315.7m overall of Tui Cruises Gmbh., Hamburg, Germany)	Own Page
MEIN SCHIFF 2 at the Cruise Pontoon, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Cruise Pontoon, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Valletta (Malta) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers / Guests Gross Tonnage 111,554
News Event Monday, July 27, 2026 @ 1007	FGS RHOEN (1977 > Rhoen-Class Tanker Pennant A1443 IMO 7362067 : 130.2 m (427 ft 2 in) overall of German Navy)	Own Page
FGS RHOEN passing Custom House Quay, Greenock and outbound for Plymouth (England, UK)
Ship's location Outbound and passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry German Navy Arrived from Inchgreen Wall, Great Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) .. assisted by tug CMS THUNDERER Gross Tonnage 6,103 Sailing for Plymouth (England, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 10,800
The tanker was being assisted at the stern by the tug CMS THUNDERER Tug CMS THUNDERER at the stern of the tanker The tug is closing to the stern of RHOEN to release the tow rope Tug CMS THUNDERER has now been released from the tanker and resumes operational duties
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 1527	HMS BROCKLESBY (1983- Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel : Pennant M 33 : 60m 197 feet long of British Royal Navy)	Own Page
HMS BROCKLESBY on patrol off Gare Loch (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location On patrol off Gare Loch (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Admiralty, London, U.K.
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 1440	FREEWAY (2015 > Suction Dredger IMO 9691682 : 92.1m overall of Boskalis Westminster Shipping Bv - Papendrecht, Netherlands )	Own Page
Dredger FREEWAY passing Custom House Quay, Greenock and heading for spoil ground at Loch Long
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Limassol (Cyprus) Arrived from Upper reaches of the River Clyde (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 4,320 Sailing for Spoil Ground near the entrance to Loch Long (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 5,780 Cargo carried on arrival Spoil material which she has dredged from the bottom of the River Clyde
News Event Monday, July 27, 2026 @ 1415	HMoNS FRIDJOF NANSEN (2006 > Frigate F310 : 134 m (439.63 ft) overall of Royal Norwegian Nary)	Own Page
FRIDJOF NANSEN (Norwegian Naval Frigate) passing Greenock and outbound from the Clyde
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Royal Norwegian Navy Sailing for Military Operations Sailed from berth 6 King George V Dock, Glasgow (with her head north)
News Event Monday, July 27, 2026 @ 1445	HEINRICH EHLER (2008> General cargo / Container Ship IMO 9372200 : 168.11m overall of Reederei Ehler , Otterndorf, Germany )	Own Page
HEINRICH EHLER leaving Greenock Ocean Terminal with containers for Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Ship's location Leaving West Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Madeira (Portugal) = Madeira International Register Sailing for Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Gross Tonnage 17,488 Sailed from berth West Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 17,819 Outward cargo Containers
HEINRICH EHLER is outbound from Greenock with containers for Belfast (Northern Ireland) and now passing the town of Kilcreggan on the Rosneath Peninsula in the Firth of Clyde
News Event Monday, July 27, 2026 @ 1502	HMS CATTISTOCK (1982 > Mine Countermeasures Vessel : Pennant M31 : of Royal Navy, London)	Own Page
HMS CATTISTOCK on patrol off the entrance to Gare Loch (Upper Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Off entrance to Gare Loch (Upper Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Admiralty (London, England, UK)
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 1307	TONKA (Landing craft / workboat of Mirren Marine, Greenock))	Own Page
Mirren Marine's Workboat TONKA passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Sailing for Mirren Marine Base at Inchgreen Quay, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Mirren Marine
News Event Friday, August 9, 1974 @ 1500	BENWYVIS (1974-1978 General cargo liner of William Thomson's Ben Line, Edinburgh)	Own Page
Ben Line's BENWYVIS (formerly PANDO POINT) Voyage Diary from 9 August 1974 to 30 January 1978
Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK)
BENWYVIS was 1957-1968   WAROONGA of British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London 1968-1974   PANDO POINT of P & O Lines, London 1974-1978   BENWYVIS of Ben Line Steamers, Edinburgh 1978   Scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan
News Event Thursday, July 23, 2026 @ 1500		Own Page
CalMac bridge visits paused over passenger's secret filming with smart glasses
From BBC Scotland Online News 23 July 2026   CalMac bridge visits paused over passenger's secret filming with smart glasses  Image source,Getty Images Image caption, A man who reported to have used smart glasses to film without permission Published Ferry operator CalMac has paused bridge visits on its vessels after a passenger used "smart glasses" to film without permission. Ayrshire Weekly Press, external reported that the man was caught filming passengers and crew using Meta glasses. They feature an almost invisible camera in the frames and small speakers in the arms. Wearers can record video or take a photo by touching the frame. A CalMac spokesperson said: "We have temporarily paused bridge visits on vessels by members of the public after an incident where an individual filmed in a restricted area without permission." They added: "Our crews and port teams always welcome interest in CalMac, but their safety and wellbeing is our number one priority." It is not known which ferry the incident took place on.
News Event Tuesday, July 14, 2026 @ 0903	ARGYLE (2006- Passenger and vehicle ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
CalMac's ARGYLE leaving Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde) for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde)
Ship's location Leaving Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde) for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Sailing for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland) Sailed from berth Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Ltd., Gourock Pier, Scotland
Contributed by Sandy (Skelmorlie)
News Event Monday, July 20, 2026 @ 1614	LYSVIK SEAWAYS (2010 > Palletised cargo ship IMO 9144251 : 129m overall of Manager: Godby Shipping Ab - Mariehamn, Finland Owner: Trailer Link Ab - Mariehmn, Finland ) )	Own Page
LYSVIK SEAWAYS approaching and arriving at Greenock Ocean Terminal on 20 July 2026
Ship's location Approaching and berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Oslo (Norway) Arrived from Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Gross Tonnage 7,409 Sailing for East Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 7,500 Cargo carried on arrival Newsprint
News Event Thursday, July 16, 2026 @ 1231	SUNMI (2013 > General cargo ship IMO 9073581 : 90.46m overall of Misje Bulk A/s, Bergen, Norway)	Own Page
SUNMI passing Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) and inbound for Diesel Wharf, Glasgow
Ship's location Passing Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) and inbound for Glasgow Port of Registry Nassau (New Providence Island, Bahamas) Arrived from Warrenpoint (small town at head of Carlingford Lough, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK) Gross Tonnage 2,825 Sailing for Diesel Wharf, Whiteinch, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 4,148 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board
Contributed by Robert McManus SUNMI was heading for Diesel Wharf at Whiteinch, Glasgow to load a cargo of scrap metal for Liverpool, England.
News Event Monday, July 20, 2026 @ 1603	MSC JOY (2010- Container ship IMO 9039250 : 202.4m overall of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co - Geneva, Switzerland)	Own Page
MSC JOY at Greenock Ocean Terminal loading containers for Le Havre, France
Ship's location West Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Panama Sailing for Le Havre (France) Gross Tonnage 30,567 Outward cargo Containers Deadweght Tonnage 31,160 Ships agent Mediterranean Shipping Company, Greenock Ocean Terminal
The container ship MSC JOY was at Greenock Ocean Terminal and loading containers for Le Havre, France. But perhaps today she should have been renamed "MANY SAD CAMERAMEN - NO JOY"       Why.   Read on.    It was an absolutely stunning summer afternoon.   Bright, clear blue cloudless sky, warm and calm. The population of Greenock seemed to have descended on the long and popular Greenock Esplanade to enjoy a pleasant stroll and relish the fresh air and savour the magnificent scenery. Among the crowd, gathering from 3pm were many cameramen and camerawomen who were keen to photograph the departure of MSC JOY, scheduled for 16:00 hours (4 pm) from the container terminal. These shipspotters had their cameras and long lenses prepared, tripods, monopods and selfie sticks ready and even one man had a drone primed to take flight. 4pm came and passed and MSC JOY continued loading. Shipspotters were becoming restless. Eventually, about 5pm the word circulated that the ship would not leave until 22:00 hours ( 10pm) So the unhappy and depressed photographers packed their gear -- and drone -- and departed the Esplanade, leaving it to the promenaders and runners. But a few men refused to leave, believing that the ship would imminently decamp from the berth. She did leave at 22:30 hours (10.30pm) And that is why MSC JOY should have been renamed "MANY SAD CAMERAMEN - NO JOY"
News Event Monday, July 20, 2026 @ 1229	CATRIONA (2015- Ro-ro ferry 43.5m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's ferry CATRIONA at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Ltd., Gourock Pier, Scotland Gross Tonnage 499
And a ferry-nice-surprise for you.   CATRIONA and her sister ship LOCHINVAR were together, next to each other, for maintenance and repair at Dales Marine Services in James Watt Dock, Greenock
News Event Monday, July 20, 2026 @ 1227	KINGDOM OF FIFE (2008- Offshore tug / supply vessel of Briggs Marine & Environmental Services, Burntisland, Fife, U.K..)	Own Page
KINGDOM OF FIFE at James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Leith (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 437 Gross Tonnage 1,459
News Event Monday, July 20, 2026 @ 1107	WAVERLEY (1974 > Excursion paddle steamer 240 feet long of Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd)	Own Page
Excursion paddle steamer WAVERLEY in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) and nearing the Town of Largs
Ship's location Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) and nearing the Town of Largs Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers Gross Tonnage 693 Ships agent Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
WAVERLEY was on an excursion cruise and left Custom House Quay, Greenock at 10:00 am and headed for Largs for 11:25am then Ayr for 13:40pm.   Arriving at Ayr she would board a Port Pilot who would turn her in the River Ayr at the entrance to Griffin Dock and then come astern to berth at South Harbour Street to embark passengers.     Leaving Ayr she would steam to Ailsa Craig and go around the island and then return to the Ayrshire Coast and view Turnberry Lighthouse and Culzean Castle.    Back to Ayr at 17:40pm and passengers would disembark and board coaches to return them to Largs and Greenock.    But WAVERLEY was not finished yet. At 18:30pm she was to leave Ayr on an Evening Cruise to Pladda (the small island off the south end of Isle of Arran) and steam round Holy Isle (the large island off Lamlash, Isle of Arran) and returning to Ayr at 21:45pm to overnight there. In the far background are the mountains in the north end of Isle of Arran
News Event Wednesday, July 8, 2026 @ 1600	CALEDONIAN ISLES (1993- Passenger and vehicle ferry 308 feet 94m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
CALEDONIAN ISLES having maintenance and repair at James Watt Dock, Greenock
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries Ltd., Gourock Pier, Scotland Gross Tonnage 5,221
The ferry CALEDONIAN ISLES is known throughout Caledonian MacBrayne as "CALEY ISLES"
News Event Monday, July 6, 2026 @ 1853	CONTSHIP TOP (2017 > Container ship IMO 9395616 : 147.85m overall of Contships Management Inc - Athens, Greece )	Own Page
CONTSHIP TOP in Firth of Forth (Scotland) and outbound with containers from Port of Grangemouth
Ship's location Firth of Forth (Scotland, UK) and outbound from the Port of Grangemouth Port of Registry Monrovia (Liberia) Outward cargo Containers Gross Tonnage 9,940 Deadweght Tonnage 13,856
Contributed by Robert McManus
News Event Monday, July 6, 2026 @ 1726	SLOMAN HEBE (2019 > Chemical / Oil Tanker IMO 9809784 : 145.20m overall of Sloman Neptun Schiffahrts Ag - Bremen, Germany / Mt Sloman Hebe Schifffahrts Gmbh & Co Kg - Bremen, Germany)	Own Page
SLOMAN HEBE in Firth of Forth (Scotland, UK) and outbound from the Port of Grangemouth
Ship's location Firth of Forth (Scotland, UK) and outbound from the Port of Grangemouth Port of Registry St John's (Antigua and Barbuda) Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board Gross Tonnage 11,316 Deadweght Tonnage 16,432
Contributed by Robert McManus
News Event Thursday, July 16, 2026 @ 1228	FRI GDANSK (2021 > Dry cargo ship (formerly ARKLOW RULER) IMO 9344502 : 90m overall of Kopervik Ship Management A/s, Kopervik, Norway)	Own Page
FRI GDANSK at Port of Ayr (Scotland) with agricultural produce from Nakskov (Southern Denmark)
Ship's location Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Limassol (Cyprus) Arrived from Nakskov (Southern Denmark) ...having left there at 12.15 on 11 July Gross Tonnage 2,999 Cargo carried on arrival Agriprods (= Agricultural produce)
Contributed by Veronika

Latest Comments

This shows the 100 latest comments.

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AT PRINCE'S DOCK, GLASGOW  ... WHAT WAS WRC   

On 25 March 1966, RAVNEFJELL at 30 Prince's Dock, Glasgow loaded 2 lifts by WRC, total 48 tons 10 hundredweights.   What was WRC ?????

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E-mail from Nelson (Liverpool)        16 June 2024

 

   I am interested in your latest Clan Line item about CLAN ROSS at Birkenhead in 1958.

  Does anyone know the address of the Cayzer Irvine and Clan Line office in Liverpool in 1958 ?

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Any information please on 

   motor launch / cruiser PIONEER at Glasgow Riverside Museum

  and

  the unknown workboat at Govan Pontoon, Glasgow

these vessels may have been involved in the construction of the new Govan Bridge in January 2024.

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CLAN MACKINNON at New York in March 1954

  Yes, Clan Line's CLAN MACKINNON arrived in New York (USA) from London in March 1954.   This is well outwith the usual Clan Line trading areas.   Any suggestions as to why CLAN MACKINNON would be in New York  ?

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Harrison Line memories : the song Matilda by Harry Belafonte

 

Contributed by Jim (Birkenhead)  28 April 2024

 

I spent many enjoyable years with Harrison Line of Liverpool.

 

One of the memories when on the West Indies run was when in the Caribbean and in the ship’s crew mess or over the ship’s loudspeakers music was played.  

Harry Belafonte was always enjoyed, and when he sang Matilda, Coconut woman  and island in the sun all over the ship the crew would accompany him, singing out loudly, especially the word Matilda .   It it was amazing to hear everyone blasting out Matilda  at the top of their voices.

 

A few years after leaving Harrison’s I was at Bidston Dock and met an old shipmate from TACTICIAN and ADVENTURER.  He was walking his dog.  It’s name was Matilda.

 

A question for everyone, for something that has puzzled me was in Belafonte's song Matilda, who was Matilda and what was her story.    Does anyone know?

 

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AHMADU BELLO  (1963-1981) of Nigerian National Line

Contributed by J. (Engineer, London)  by e-mail 22 April 2024

   Does anyone remember AHMADU BELLO (1963-1981) a general cargo ship of Nigerian National Line : a frequent visitor to London, Birkenhead, Glasgow and Tees Dock.

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Walter Runciman / Moor Line’s CRAGMOOR

 

E-mail received 26 August 2022

I was staggered to read about Moor Line’s CRAGMOOR in your Latest Entries.   My father sailed in that ship in 1961-62.  Mostly a Newcastle and Sunderland crew.    Have you the details of those times.

 Name is not shown, by request.

 Douglas replies :    Yes, I’ve got the details from the Chief Officers Log Books.   There’s an awful lot in the books, maybe 100 large pages or so and masses of daily detail.   Let me know on CONTACT US what you actually want and I’ll see what can be done.  Thanks for your message.

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Does anyone remember Hogarth’s BARON FORBES which was

scrapped in 1953

and

Tracing a discharge book left aboard in 1959.

 E-mail 13 November 2020

From Murdo MacPherson

 Does anybody remember the rent boat BARON FORBES an old

ex-german ship the worst ship I sailed in she was scrapped

in 1953,  forecastle accommodation one trip was enough

The captain Mcphail was strict
ps I left my discharge book on an Everard ship in Goole

in 1959 got any ideas how I can trace it

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Isthmian Steamship Lines of USA

E-mail October 10  2020 

 From Bobby Ford  (USA)

Do you have anything about Isthmian Steamship Lines,

or anyone remember them, who did freighter service

from India and Far East in 1950 / 60’s.

   Any memories of the "STEEL" boats  ?

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What do you want (or not want) on this website ?

    It is the time of year to ask you, the readers, what you want  -  or

do not want  -  on this website.

    More of this, or less of that, or maybe something new ?

    Please let us know what you want, so that we can try to provide the material which is of interest to YOU.

    Also we are always interested in receiving material from our readers.   So, wherever you are in the world, how about sending

stories, images or items to put in the website ?

 Thank you.  11 August 2020

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Information needed on Cunard Line's ASCANIA (1911-1918)

10th August 2020    E-mail from a viewer. 

Cunard Lines ASCANIA  (1911-1918)

 I am wondering if you might have more information and pictures

on the Vessel Ascania - Shipping line Cunard 1911-1918

Master - SGS Mihal.

This is a ship that my grandfather travelled from Southampton,

England to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1914.

Please any information would help.

Thank You

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Where did the Royal Navy families from H.M.S.MAIDSTONE stay in Rothesay ?

Port of Registry Admiralty (Royal Navy, London)

Where did the Royal Navy families stay in Rothesay ?   E-mail 03 June 2020 from Helen G (Glasgow)      As a young girl in 1960s my parents and I often visited my aunt in Rothesay …(Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde,)    It was exciting to see a big Royal Navy ship, I remember her name was MAIDSTONE, and she was anchored in the bay.    There was always submarines about her and sailors in uniform in the town.    My aunt used to tell that some sailors and their families stayed in “Navy Houses” in Rothesay.   Does anyone know where the houses were ?  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Song about the Clyde and the musical band on Glasgow excursion steamers in 1950s / 60s

 

Email from Margaret Rose (nee Wilson)   May 31 2020 Montreal  

 

In the early 1960s my family emigrated from Scotland to Montreal(Canada).

   Dad always used to tell of sailing down the Clyde from

Glasgow on excursion steamers and there was a musical

band aboard which played Scottish tunes to entertain

passengers.

   A favourite song was something about the Clyde.   I know

it’s a long shot but does anyone know the name of the

song and the band ?

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Lightship ALBATROSS built at Robbs Shipyard, Leith in 1927

E-Mail from a viewer   31 May 2020

Hello- I wonder if anyone can please help. I am researching a lightship built at Robbs shipyard in 1927. Her name is Albatross and I believe she was built in yard 30. I would dearly love to see her build plans but I know that is a massive ask. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks

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Cruise ships may be laid up in the Clyde

 

22 May 2020

1353

 

From Jimmy Johnston (Paisley)

 

   In the news they are talking about laying up idle cruise liners in the Clyde.   Where in the Clyde or even in Scotland could be good places to put these big ships.

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e-mail from Tommy Robertson   (Dumbarton)

21 May 2020

 

Elder Dempster / Blue Funnel ship scrapped at Dalmuir (Glasgow) around 1980

 

Does anyone know the name of the Alfred Holt Blue Funnel

ship that was scrapped at the Arnott Young yard at Dalmuir. 

  She was definitely a Blue Funnel job but had the Elder

Dempster buff funnel.

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Paddle Steamers at Pusser River, Chalna, Bangladesh

 

E-mail 23 March 2020 from N.L. of Cardiff, Wales

 

   I was looking at your item on the WAVERLEY which calls herself the “Last seagoing paddle steamer in the World.”

  It reminded me of the last time I was at Chalna (Pusser River, Bangladesh) in early 1980s where there were many largish paddle steamers about 300 feet (100 metres) long chugging around.  

   I never thought of what they were doing, maybe bringing the gangs of workers to the anchorage to load Jute (who remembers the biting Jute Flies) onto the ships, or maybe taking passengers to some place downriver.

   But these were big working paddle steamers.   Does anyone else remember them ?

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Why was Irish Lights Tender IERNE registered in Liverpool ?

 19 March 2020 @ 1057

J R of Birkenhead e-mails :

   I read your item about the IERNE, a lights tender owned by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Dublin, Ireland.  

   Why was she registered in Liverpool and not Dublin ? and what was her eventual fate ?

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Maclay and McIntyre of Glasgow ships DOMIRA and KASSANGA and a ship LYNFIELD of Stockton on Tees

A viewer e-mails 

   I am particularly looking for some information about a Glasgow Tramp Shipping Co called Maclay and Mc intyre and 2 ships of there's Domira sold 1919 and Kassanga bought 1911 sunk 1917. 

 Also a ship called Lynfield belonging to a shipping co called Field from Stockton on Tees 

Can anyone help ?

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Stewardesses and Nurse on Burns & Lairds IRISH COAST in 1966

 2019-12-29

By e-mail

Does anyone remember the Stewardesses (usually student school-teachers who were working during the summer holidays) and the Nurse who worked on Burns & Lairds IRISH COAST in 1966.

Mary D.

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Old Mississippi – type passenger steamer in Sydney (Australia)

Jim Middleton (London) e-mails

29 December 2019

 The BBC news today showed the wild fires at Sydney and the smoke at Sydney Harbour.

   I was surprised to see in the news report, in the background, an old Mississippi type passenger steamer, with two tall abreast funnels (stacks) passing under the Harbour Bridge.

   Can anyone give details of this vessel and its route and timetable ?

   Thanks, JM.

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CLAN FRASER and a rope across the dock at Glasgow

 4 November 2019

Jim McGoogan e-mails :

   Your article of CLAN FRASER of 8^th January 1964 says a rope was put across King George V Dock, Glasgow while the ship was making an engine trial.

   Why put a rope across the dock and where would the rope be attached to the ship and also attached to the dock ?

 

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Glasgow shipping line Maclay and Mcintyre and ship pictures of DOMIRA 2 and LYNFIELD.

A reader asks for any information on Glasgow shipping line Maclay and Mcintyre and ship pictures of DOMIRA 2 and LYNFIELD.    Can anyone help ? 14 September 2019 ====================================================================

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Where is the “Chapman Anchorage” ???

   Robbie Keen (Carlisle, England) emails:

 I see in the entry for BENWYVIS that she

was in “Chapman Anchorage.”   Where is

Chapman Anchorage and what would she

 be doing there ???

Robbie.  31 August 2019

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Teak fronts on the front of ship's bridges

By Eric S.     8th July 2019

Many cargo vessels and tankers built as late as the 1950s had

teak fronts to their bridges, even though the rest of their

superstructures was steel. Why was this so? Was the teak

front at these late dates merely a design feature, or an echo

of past practice, perhaps, or were there practical reasons?

All comments are welcome.

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Can anyone identify this cap badge ?

Samms of Nantwich e-mails:    07 July 2019

 I saw this officer’s cap at a flea market.   Can

 

anyone identify the cap badge ? 

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What shipping Companies served Calcutta, Chalna, Chittagong and Rangoon and what problems did the Monsoon rains and storms cause to the ships ?

By e-mail from R.S. (London)  2 July 2019

    There was a programme on television the other evening

about the Monsoon in the Bay of Bengal.   I was a North

Atlantic man and never ventured to the Far East.

   I wondered what difficulties would be experienced by

ships during the Monsoon season’s heavy rainfall and

swollen rivers and storms.

    And also, I can only think of maybe 3 shipping

companies which regularly traded to the area – Calcutta,

Chalna, Chittagong, Rangoon.   What other companies

were there ?

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Where did this ship come from in Sweden ???

Haltst…….. ?????

January 2020 and Bryn Wayt e-mails

A chap was asking where ship came from: the spelling was incorrect using Haltstwik on the 'docket'.

The origin of the ship must have been HALLSTAVIK in Sweden.

The place was/is famous for it paper-mill, hence the ships cargo bound for Belfast.
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallstavik

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U.S. Navy supply ships calling at Fairlie (Firth of Clyde)

From Alan and Jean, (Fairlie, Firth of Clyde, Scotland)

20 May 2019  @ 1540

    We were very interested in your mention of U.S.S. YELLOWSTONE

at Tail-of-the Bank.

   It reminded us in 1960s, 1970s and 1980s when U.S. Navy

supply ships were common callers at the Navy jetty at Fairlie,

bringing stores for the Holy Loch vessels, and the stores

were taken from Fairlie to Holy Loch in the Ross & Marshall

lighters and small coasters.

   The U.S. ships were quite colourful (colorful) with their

grey hulls and their funnels (stacks) painted grey with yellow

and blue bands.

   Our favourite, her name began with M, not quite sure but

could be MARSHFIELD or MARSHLAND ….. or something like

that, was obviously a WW2 type but always immaculate

 and a frequent caller.

   Does anyone else remember these ships calling at

the Clyde ?

 

Alan and Jean.

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Clyde Navigation Trust launches NEWARK, GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS

 

 14 March 2019   @ 1239

Richard Danielson e-mails

 The Clyde Navigation Trust harbour launches: Newark, Garmoyle and Dunglass have had little written about them. 

I have a photo showing two of them (which two I cannot tell) giving a tow to the Duchess of Hamilton to help her turn at Bridge Wharf in 1969. 

Please ask anyone who knows about the work of the launches to get in touch with me by email.

THANK YOU.
Richard Danielson. 

 

Admin Note :

   For safety and security of our readers we do not normally show e-mail addresses.    Any reply to this interesting question should be made to our “CONTACT US” and we will forward the message to Richard.

 

20 March 2019  @ 1604

 

Jim Howie  (Partick, Glasgow)

 

   I am replying to Richard’s query about the small boats at Glasgow.

   Sorry to disappoint you Richard but there was a small but bulky booklet produced possibly about 50 years ago that described in great detail all the Clyde Navigation Trust / Clyde Port Authority vessels.   I did have a copy but it’s been lost.

  

In 1960’s the Clyde Trust / Authority had quite a few vessels.

6 Dredgers : CESSNOCK, CRAIGIEHALL, ELDERSLIE, LENNOX 11, ROSSLYN and SIR WILLIAM H. RAEBURN.

12 Hopper Barges.

1 Dumb grab hopper barge.

1 Tug CLYDE.

4 high-level Vehicular Ferryboats : FINNIESTON, GOVAN and WHITEINCH.  The remaining one was a spare in case of breakdowns.

3 chain-operated ferries : RENFREW and ERSKINE.  The remaining one was a spare in case of breakdowns.

11 passenger ferryboats.

1 60-ton floating crane NEWSHOT.

1 Diving Bell barge.

2 Divers’ motor boats.

1 Oil Separating Barge PLOVER

3 motor launches NEWARK, GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS.

1 Hydrographic Survey launch CRANNOG.

And a number of very small rope boats which were used in the docks and piers to bring the mooring ropes from ships to the pawls on the dockside.

 

I think CRANNOG did an awful lot of the surveying for the placement for both Finnart and Hunterston jetties.

And around mid 1990s NEWARK was fitted with an A-frame at the stern and spent a week in Ardrossan Harbour dragging the bottom of Eglinton Dock to clear all debris prior to the construction of the Marina in the dock.

   The motor launches normally berthed at the Trust / Authority workshops at Renfrew although at odd times they laid alongside the dredgers and hoppers in Queen’s Dock.

 

   If you would care to put the photograph on this site I have a friend who may be able to identify the boats in question.

 

Jim Howie.

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Looking for images / photos of BALLYGALLY HEAD of 1950s

 23 January 2019  1011

Joseph McGurk Jr. e-mails

Hi, I am looking for any photos of the tramp steam ship, BALLYGALLY HEAD, I think

there were two built, one in the late 1800s and the other in the mid 1950s

   I would appreciate if you could find any as it would make my father very happy as

he sailed on her

   Thank you, regards Joseph mc gurk jr

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Renfrew Harbour, Firth of Clyde, around 1980

    January 2019 : Robert Orr contributed this image of Clyde Navigation Trust / Clyde Port Authority HOPPER No. 25 at their wharf at their workshops at Renfrew Harbour around 1980.

 

   Does anyone have any idea what the other ships are ?

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The advert for paddle steamer EAGLE 111 in 1937

 6th  January 2019.

   James Barrowman (Brighton, England) e-mails :

I am an enthusiast for paddle steamers and read your item on EAGLE 111.

   The advertisement shows the ship departing from Glasgow (Bridge Wharf) s. s.

   Assuming that s.s. does not mean Steam Ship, can anyone help with what s.s. means ?

   Thanks, Jim Barrowman.

7^th January 2019 

   J.S. (Pollokshaws, Glasgow) replies :

The River Clyde runs generally east to west through

the centre of Glasgow and essentially divides the city

into two halves, the  “North Side” and the “South Side.”

   In the past and even today people talk of coming

from or living in the South Side.

   Up to around 1970’s passenger excursion steamers

and cross-channel to Ireland steamers left Broomielaw,

Anderston Quay and Lancefield Quay on the North Side

and in the summer months left Bridge Wharf on the

South Side (hence S.S.) on excursions “Doon the Watter”

= Down the Water = sailing down the River Clyde to

Clyde piers such as Dunoon and Rothesay and

Tighnabruaich.

   The advert mentions the steamer calling at Govan

 Wharf and Renfrew to pick up passengers.

   Today Govan Wharf is only recognisable by a derelict

and ruined few baulks of timber.   It was situated on the

South Bank essentially between the Govan Drydocks

(now also derelict) and the Bae Shipyard (formerly Fairfields

yard) and beside the playing field between Wanlock Street

and Dunvegan Street, Govan.   Up to the 1960s the

small Govan Passenger Ferry used to ply from near

Govan Wharf across the river to the east end of Meadowside

Quay

   It was news to me that excursion steamers stopped

at Renfrew.   I have no idea where the stop was located.

   Perhaps someone can help.

 

Ref The advert for paddle steamer EAGLE 111 in 1937.

12 January 2019   Robert Orr replies :

The steamer berth at Renfrew was on the river bank at 'The Green' in

Renfrew and as far as I'm aware was destroyed during the 'Clydebank

Blitz' in 1941, (this being air attacks on the town of Clydebank on the

opposite bank of the Clyde, home amongst other things to John Browns

shipyard). If you go to Google maps and search Clyde Street Renfrew

the bollards for mooring ropes are still visible at the edge of the Green.

The Scania Yard visible in street view was the start of the land

 

occupied by Simons and Lobnitz shipyards in Renfrew.

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Questions about Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line in 1960's

10 December 2018   Geoff in Australia e-mails :

I was on the Ulysses which traded between the Far East,mainly Indonesia and the East Coast and Gulf of the US.I understand it was a route which belonged to the Indra Line which Holts acquired in 1915. I believe that it may have been incorporated into a round the world service later.My time was during the late 50s and ended in 1960.

Crews during my time consisted of Europeans on deck and Chinese in the engine room, and catering,on ships trading from Liverpool. The Ulysses had Malays on deck and Chinese in the engine room,I cant remember who were the catering staff.

Gunung Djati was the name of the leading Javanese Haji and Islamic missionary.

 

With regards to crewing, the Dutch arm of Blue Funnel had all Chinese crews with Dutch officers, certainly in the 1950s.

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Ellerman’s CITY OF EXETER at Plymouth in 1958    

I was quite surprised to read that CITY OF EXETER called

at Plymouth in 1958.   Was Plymouth a normal call for Ellerman

African service passenger liners?

   Jim Hesketh, Liverpool 

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12 November 2018

 

TWEED, a 1959-built 112 foot water carrier of

Furness Withy, Port of Spain, Trinidad

 James R. (Avonmouth, England) e-mails :

    Looking at your list of ships I was surprised to see

TWEED of Furness Withy, a 112 foot water tanker at

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

   Anyone have information on this ship ?

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Can anyone name this British coaster ?

 

05 November 2018

Billy Fullarton writes :

  I took this photograph in 1970s or 1980s at Ardrossan

Harbour, Scotland.   Can anyone name this coaster. ?

 

   I think her name ends in SOUND.

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British & Irish KILKENNY in 1935

Does anyone have details of this ship in 1935 ???

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Ben Line carried a Naval tug from Trincomali to Gan ???

     I was with Brocklebank’s and sometimes called at

Gan Island in the Indian Ocean to discharge stores for

the RAF overside to landing craft in the lagoon.

   Talking to someone he said that he was on a Ben ship

which carried a small naval tug from Trincomali in

Ceylon to Gan, around late 1960s.

   Anyone know about this ?

    J.S., (Wallasey)

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Questions about Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line in 1960's

Jim J. of Liverpool e-mails :

   Around 1966 I was on a Royal Mail or Pacific Steam ship

in Houston / New Orleans area and saw an Alfred Holt Blue

Funnel ship there.

   Can anyone enlighten me as to why a Blue Funnel would

be in the Gulf of Mexico ?

   Also in conversation someone told of Blue Funnel having

Chinese crews on deck and catering.   I had always thought

that Blueys had British crews.   Someone please tell me

what is correct.

............................................................................................................................................................................

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Deck cadets Critchley and Doherty on RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965

 22 May 2018

 Alan Rutherford e-mails :

   Interested in whereabouts of other deck cadet officers Critchley and Doherty from RAMON DE LARRINAGA in 1965 ?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

  

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   Looking for information on some British ships around 1950-1954

 Ian Rae e-mails  ....  4 March 2018 @ 1221

 Great website.

I am trying to find information on some of the voyages my late brother -in-law made.
Blairdevon-this was his first trip, signed on 30 April paid off 12 June 1950.This was a fairly ancient coal burner.Dont know owner
Tahsinia-20Jun-13 Oct 1950-to Bombay
Saxon (?) Star-28 Sep -25 April 1952-(paid off Manchester)
Camerionia9 Jun to 10 Sep 1952
Empire Halladale-a troopship-23 Oct 1952 -paid off Birkenhead 22 Jan 1953
Retainer 6 Feb-31 Oct 1953-paid off Antwerp
Cortona 15 Dec 1953-19 Jan 1954

Thereafter he sailed out of London and latterly on Manchester Liners
When I tried your search the year 1951 was missing

Regards,
Ian Rae

 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 

  

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Can anyone identify this USN lapel badge ?

     Dominique and her husband from Lyons (France) were on vacation in Spain and bought this lapel badge in a street market in Tarragona (near Barcelona).

   Can anyone identify the badge ?

2018-02-18 @ 1320

 

19 May 2018

Hello Douglas,

It's Bryn (Wayt) here - you helped me with the Austerland cargo vessel last year. Thanks again.

This message is about the image of the USN "Anchor pin".
There are loads on eBay just type in "US Navy Petty Officer gold tie pin" 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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First ship was CHARLTON MIRA of Charlton Steam Shipping Company, London

Bill Steel e-mails

Charlton Mira was my first ship. Built in Sunderland at Bartram's yard. Doxford 670LB4 diesel oil engine. She had two scotch boilers and steam auxiliaries. Lovely vessel but would roll on wet grass.

17 February 2018 @ 2307

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 What is the difference between Agents / General Agents and Freight Brokers ?

    Jim Harrison  (Brighton, England) e-mails :

 I am using the India Steamship Company sailing notice as a simple example, but my question actually can also relate to many other shipping companies.

   The India Company shows that intending shippers can contact the U.K. General Agents Stelp & Leighton or the U.K. Freight Brokers J. H. Wackerbarth.

   My question is : what is the difference between using Agents / General Agents and Freight Brokers ?

 ....................................................................................................................................................

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   German cargo ship MILLERNTOR in 1954

 

    In January 1954 the cargo ship MILLERNTOR, registered in Hamburg, 2,787 nett tons and Master T. Goldsweer, arrived at Ardrossan Harbour, Scotland, with a cargo of Iron Ore from Narvik (Norway).

 

   After unloading she left Ardrossan returning to Narvik.

 

Does anyone have any information or details of MILLERNTOR ?

..........................................................................................................................................................................

  

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" If sufficient inducement "

 James Bridges (Canterbury, England) e-mails –

   Many of your sailing notices show that a ship will go to a port “if sufficient inducement.”      What exactly is “if sufficient inducement ?”

“ If sufficient inducement “

 

23 January 2019 at 2113

 Geoff  (Australia)  e-mails :

 

James Bridges (Canterbury, England) e-mails –

 “Many of your sailing notices show that a ship will go to a port “if

sufficient inducement.” What exactly is “if sufficient inducement ? “

My understanding of "sufficient inducement" meant if there was

 enough cargo to be lifted to be commercially viable. ”

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Was she “ LAIRDS OAK “ or “ LAIRDSOAK ” ?

   Robert Bothwell (Glasgow) e-mails :

I have always had an affection for Burns & Laird Lines of Glasgow and refer to your entry of their coaster LAIRDS OAK in 1954.

   The Ships in Focus book shows her name as LAIRDSOAK but the accompanying photograph clearly shows the name LAIRDS OAK.

   I know it’s a bit pedantic but what was her name, LAIRDS OAK or was it LAIRDSOAK ?  

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Harbour oilers CLYDE ENTERPRISE and CLYDE VENTURE in late 1960’s

 

   Does anyone have details of these two oilers which were working in the Clyde in late 1960’s ?

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  

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Coaster BALLYCASTLE in 1953

 

In 1953 the coaster BALLYCASTLE of John Kelly, Belfast, was at Ardrossan Harbour loading a cargo of coke for Londonderry.   Does anyone have details of this ship ?

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   Carebeka's coaster RIAN in 1953

 

 In December 1953 the Carebeka’s Groningen registered coaster RIAN arrived at Ardrossan Harbour from Hamburg.

 

   The handwriting in the Harbour Log-book is not easy to read.   The master’s name could be Cloinga or Eloinga : can any Netherlands reader tell what the name is ?

 

   Also the cargo is shown as  “M of Potash” …. What is “M of Potash” ???

  

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Details needed of Van Nievelt, Goudriaan's ALPHERAT in 1954

When the Blue Star Line cargo ship PARAGUAY STAR was leaving Montevideo for Buenos Aires her docking bridge fouled the housed port anchor of the Dutch cargo ship ALPHERAT.

   The docking bridge sustained displaced and buckled bridge rails and started deck plank caulking.   Repairs at Buenos Aires cost 5,850 Argentinian Pesos.

   PARAGUAY STAR. a passenger and cargo liner of 10,722 gross tons, was on passage from Liverpool for Buenos Aires and ALPHERAT is a passenger and cargo ship of Rotterdam South America Line (Rotterdam-Zuid Amerika Lijn) and operated by Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co. Stoomvaart Maatschappij, Rotterdam.   ALPHERAT is well known for carrying Jewish emigrants from Rotterdam to South America.

Additional note :

Can anyone supply details of ALPHERAT ?

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Norwegian Tanker RAILA in 1953

 

   Does anyone have details of the Tanker RAILA, registered in Oslo, which was working around the British coast in 1953 ?

 

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Elder Dempster services from USA and Canada and Calcutta to Africa.

 Fred from Formby (Merseyside, England, writes

 

“ I was surprised to read in the Elder Dempster Lines entry of 27^th May 1957 that they did sailings from U.S.A. and Canada to West Africa, also Canada to South Africa and also Calcutta to West Africa.

 

Can someone tell something about these services ? ”

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CHANTALA  (Worcester Park, Surrey) writes :

British India Steam Navigation handbook for Hindustani for Navigating Officers and Deck Cadets

   In 1965 when joining BI as a Deck Cadet a necessary handbook was for issuing commands in the Hindustani Language.

   All I can remember now is “Asti aria kurro”

   Does anyone still have the book and can scan or photograph a few pages to show the commands ?

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Sailings from Glasgow Bridge Wharf in April, May and June 1968 to Rothesay and Tighnabruaich.

 

      Thank you so very much for putting in the sailings from Bridge Wharf in Glasgow that I asked for.   Anne G., Isle of Bute

  

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British Army Tank Landing Craft LCT 4086 and her base at Cairnryan in 1954

 

   Tank Landing Craft LCT 4086 of the British Army’s Royal Army Service Corps arrived at Ardrossan Dockyard in February 1954.   Anyone have details of this vessel and of her life and also details of her base at Cairnryan (which is near Stranraer in south-west Scotland)

  

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Anchor Line advertisement of 1871

    I did laugh on seeing the wonderful Handyside and Henderson address of their office in Londonderry as 96 ½ Foyle Street.

   If anyone is in Londonderry can they please, please take a photograph of that building and post it on this site.

Thank you.

Still laughing

Fred of Formby, Merseyside, England.

11 June 2018  Bryn Wayt replies that the building has been demolished and modern housing has been built on its site

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German cargo ship RUHR in 1953

 

  On 15^th December 1953 the German cargo ship RUHR, registered in Hamburg and 1,725 nett tons, Captain Ekelman, brought a cargo of scrap metal from Halifax (Canada) to Ardrossan Harbour.

 

   Has anyone got any details of this ship ?

 

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British coaster J B KEE in 1957

 

 Fred of Formby (Merseyside, England) writes :

 

   I have put in a short article about J B KEE making a distress call on 4^th November 1957.

 

   Anyone have details of this ship ?

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

  

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Which Donaldson Line ship collided with a Cunard Liner in 1960’s in Quebec or Montreal ?

 

 Bas Buma (Rotterdam) e-mails ….. translated by Google

 

   Does anyone remember in 1960’s when a Donaldson cargo ship collided with a Cunard passenger liner, maybe CARINTHIA or SYLVANIA at Quebec or Montreal?   My memory is not good now.

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At what time did Union Castle mailships leave South Africa for U.K. ?

 

 Jim Allbright (London) e-mails :

 

   I thoroughly enjoy reading your “Conducting their business in Great Waters” articles as they remind me of places and ships of long, long ago.

 

   Something which I have always pondered – Union Castle passenger liners left Southampton at 4pm on Thursdays for South Africa, --- but did they have a set time, say 4pm when sailing from, for example Cape Town or Durban, when returning to U.K. ?

 

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SUNBEAR of Saguenay Terminals.

 

   In 1962 Saguenay had chartered a general cargo ship named SUNBEAR.   Does anyone have details of this vessel ?

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Can anyone identify or help with a cargo ship AUSTERLAND around 1955-1960 ? === ship is now firmly believed to be AUSTRALIND 

Captain Bryn Wayt writes :

 My father fitted a T/V to a ship that visited the Clyde around the years 1955-60 and I accompanied my him to assist - I was young and have only a limited memory of the event.
The 'Master' invited us both to sail with him "around the world" - so my guess was it was a long-range merchant vessel. It was NOT a "liner" but more of an "ocean freighter".
The name that sticks in my limited memory bank is the "AUSTERLAND".
I've tried various sources to find her, but have not been successful.
I was born and bred in Glasgow, but I was not acquainted with the Dock in which the ship was anchored to narrow the search.
It was there for at least a week, as the "Master" visited my father's shop and asked for a T/V to be fitted in his vessel.
It took a little time to gather the required bits and bobs to accommodate the order that's why I say a week all told in dock.
Anybody who can give me a clue where to look would be thanked in customer fashion.

James Jeffries replies :

   I saw the message from Captain Wayt and I don’t know off-hand of AUSTERLAND but the name makes me think of AUSTRALIND of the Australind Steam Shipping Company / Bethell, Gwyn & Trinder Anderson & Company, London.

    AUSTRALIND was a 7,214 gross ton tramp cargo ship and was built in 1944 by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, for Australind,  and in 1959 was sold to Argus Steam Ship Company, Liberia and renamed PORTALON.

   In 1972 she was scrapped in Santander, Spain.

However it’s an interesting problem and I’ll start looking for an AUSTERLAND

 

Billy MacAulay (Moderator and Senior Member) writes :

   I have never heard of AUSTERLAND, but as Jim says AUSTRALIND is a possibility as Trinder Anderson vessels were visitors – though not too frequently – to Glasgow - and AUSTRALIND was in Govan Drydock, Glasgow around 1954.

   But I will also look for AUSTERLAND and being a cargo ship will search at Queen’s and Prince’s Docks and surroundings.   It will take some time as there is a lot to plough through.

  

 

  

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   Why was LADY McGOWAN IN Loch Riddon ?

 

 The small I.C.I. explosives carrying coaster LADY McGOWAN was in Loch Riddon on 29 November 1953.

 

   Loch Riddon is a small Loch situated near Tighnabruaich in the Kyles of Bute, a lonely and sparsely populated hilly area off the main area known as Firth of Clyde, Scotland.

 

   Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to the reason why LADY McGOWAN would be in this unusual locality ?

  

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John Kelly's coaster BALLYCLARE in late 1953.

   In our entries for this ship it is difficult to read the Master's name... possibly Capt. Crab.   Anyone know if this is correct ?

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Small boat sailor writes from Inverkip :

 

 

 

   I see that motor launches P.D.1 and 8641 passed King George V Dock, Glasgow in January 1967.   Their names vaguely ring a bell in my memory but I don’t remember anything about them.

 

   Does anyone know anything of these two launches ?

 

Just a guess could P.D.1 refer to the launch being the mooring rope boat in Prince’s Dock ?

 

   Sandy

  

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Mystery of CVC in Prince’s Dock area of Glasgow

   In 1958 the Clyde Shipping Company’s coaster PLADDA

 was listed as berthed in CVC in Prince’s Dock

 area in Glasgow.

   Does anyone know where CVC was ?

Jim Sloan replies : CVC was Clyde Vila Crane on the quay around berth 81 Plantation Quay, Glasgow

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Pacific Steam Navigation’s KENUTA at Puna in 1957

 

Tom Hayworth e-mails :

 

Your homepage shows KENUTA at Puna in 1957.   Where is Puna ?

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Ben Line’s Far-East coaster BENVEG in 1957

 

Leith Man e-mails

I was very surprised to see your entry for BENVEG in January 1957

for BENVEG as I had never heard of her.

 

Anyone have any more information please ?

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SPRINGFIELD QUAY, GLASGOW

Harry Cochrane e-mails :and conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.

For a good few years what was Springfield Quay in Glasgow has been redeveloped into an entertainment area with a cinema, hotel, casino and restaurants.   There was always a big sign at the entrance reading "SPRINGFIELD QUAY" but now the sign has been removed and replaced with a much smaller and more modern one saying "THE QUAY"

It's sad to have the last of the great Glasgow dockside quayside names disappear from public view.

aand conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.nd conveniently close to the city centre. With restaurants, casino, bingo, bowling, cinema and hotel, everything you need is at The Quay.

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MYSTERY SHIP PORTHOLE  From Michael Irwin (michaelj87836@gmail.com) When: 16 September 2016 15:09 Can show name?  Can show email?  Can show message?  I have a very short video posted on youtube of a porthole that I am trying to identify. It is more than likely WW1 era. Glass window is 14" in diameter and the entire assembly weighs 132 lbs. The name of the youtube video is Mystery Ship Porthole and I will leave a link. Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbgNppQ8XWM ............................................................................................................................................

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LASHERCIA ..... A Spanish coaster in 1962

   Does anyone have information on LASHERCIA which was trading around the Irish Sea and Liverpool in 1962 ?

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Clyde Navigation Trust launches GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS

Jim Allison writes : I see from arrivals and sailings that the Clyde Navigation Trust launches GARMOYLE and DUNGLASS were busy on the River, even in the middle of the night.  What was their occupation ?

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Carrickfergus (Northern Ireland) in January 1963.

From Sean R  (Larne, Northern Ireland)

   Thanks very much for showing the ships bringing explosives from Irvine to Carrickfergus in January 1963.   After 53 years I've now found out the two ships in the photographs, CASCADE the Dutch coaster and LADY ANSTRUTHER of ICI.    Sean R.

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   What do you want  (or don't want)  on this website  ?

   With new Administrators and Contributors now helping with this website, it is probably a good time to find out what you, the viewers, want to see and read about.

   So, what do you want -  or don't want  -  on this website ?   Should there be more of this  ....... or less of that   ....... or maybe something entirely new  ?

   Please use the "Contact us" button and tell the team in as much detail as possible so that we can try to provide items which are of interest to you.

   Thank you. 

 

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Netherlands coaster MADO in 1963

   In January 1963 the Groningen registered coaster MADO was at Irvine, Scotland, having arrived with a cargo of 200 tons of fertilizer from Rotterdam.   Does anyone have any information or details of this ship

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CARGOES FOR BEIRA BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT ONLY

I see from the sailing notices (such as in SYDNEY STAR) that cargoes for Beira in East Africa are often accepted by special arrangement only.  Why by special arrangement ?

  Charlie and Misty Fennelly, New Jersey. U.S.A.

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Holland America cargo ship DUIVENDYK

Holland America cargo ship DUIVENDYK was at Glasgow from August 27 1959 to September 2 1959 loading scrap metal for Japan.   Does anyone have any information about this vessel.

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Information needed on cargo ship KORBACH in 1958

 

KORBACH was closing for receiving cargo in Glasgow on 25 July 1958 and loading for the Great Lakes, Detroit and Chicago.    She was probably on a charter by Anchor Line or Head Line or Cunard Line.

 

Does anyone have any information on KORBACH ?

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“Conducting their business in Great Waters” series

Just to say how much we enjoy reading your “Conducting their business in Great Waters” series.   Really good to read of BENDORAN at Zamboanga and DURBAN CASTLE at St. Helena Island and British India’s KENYA at Zanzibar. And Misty appreciates the diary of Donaldson Line's LETITIA that you included for her.  This is the only website that brings the voyages to life.   Even the kids read it and are sure learning their world geography.   Charlie and Misty Fennelly,  New Jersey. U.S.A (Misty was born in Canada and her family were Pilots on Saint Lawrence)

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WHERE IS " PULO BOKOM "

On 5th January 1957 Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel CALCHAS was at Pulo Bokom.   It's not on Wikipedia.   Where is Pulo Bokom ?

"Hydatina" of Croydon, England, writes :

Pulau Bukom, also known as Pulau Bukum, is a small island belonging to Singapore that is located about five kilometres to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. The size of Pulau Bukom is about 1.45 km².   Royal Dutch Shell Group had a refinery there which I visited a number of times on Shell U.K. Tankers.

Note : The event for CALCHAS has been amended accordingly.

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A question about Alfred Holt and the King George V Dock in Glasgow

Jim Alison e-mails :   Your event of 25th August 1958 tells that Blue Funnel's PELEUS loaded a 6-ton lift by "Holt's crane".   Did Alfred Holt have a company crane at Glasgow, or could it be the ship's own derrick that was used. ?

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CLAN MACINTOSH and help needed on the origin of three launches loaded at Glasgow.

On 9th July 1958 CLAN MACINTOSH loaded 3 launches by her own gear at Glasgow.   The launches came from "Mechano / Medano.   Please have a look at the image, which has been enlarged, and see if you can throw some light on the launches.

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Scottish motor coaster PIBROCH built in 1956 by Scott & Sons of Bowling

Does anyone have details of her owners and employment after being sold by Scottish Malt Distillers Company ?

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CAN YOU HELP  The oilers "Invertest, Apexity and Clanity" are noted as daily supplying bunker fuel oil to vessels. Have you any images or information on these three ships. ? 

A. Manson replies: Apexity and Clanity were owned by F.T Everard later taken over by Fisher.

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CAN YOU HELP   Ore ships at General Terminus Quay .....when leaving, they left Terminus Quay astern.... where were they turned, to go downriver ahead.  Did they turn in Princes Dock...or at Yorkhill Basin...or at King George V Dock ?

  A. Manson replies "Ore carriers leaving General Terminus Quay were canted at Princes Dock ; the area inside the entrance was known as the Canting Basin."

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CAN YOU HELP   Glasgow fire-boat "St. Mungo"    Billy and Terry Kelly noted that Glasgow had a fire-boat named "St. Mungo" operated by Glasgow Fire Service, moored at Yorkhill Quay at the entrance to Queens Dock,  and crewed by firemen based in Yorkhill Fire Station (just across the road from Yorkhill Quay.)  Does anyone have a photograph of "St. Mungo" ?

A. Manson replies :Photographs and history the early and latter St. Mungo Fireboats can be seen by going on website "St. Mungo Fireboat"

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CAN YOU HELP    Blue funnel liner "Pyrrhus" is shown as arriving on 16th July 1958 (see the image) at berth 3 King George V Dock, head South, bow 5 1/2 ...something...into berth 4.   Any idea what the 5 1/2 something is ?

Ref. "Pyrrhus Berthing. The large timber or metal doors on the dockside of the cargo sheds are referred to as Blinds. There may six or seven of these so the bow or stern of a vessel may be sited in a position relative to the blinds.

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CAN YOU HELP   The coaster "Salling" arrived at KG5 on 16th July 1958 from " G.at ? " (see the image)  Can anyone hazard a guess what the place "G....at" is ?

A Manson replies "Destination of "Salling" could possibly have Ghent, Belgium."

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CAN YOU HELP.   Princes Dock logbook shows these vessels arriving, but the writing is hard to read.   Can you make out the names?

          

Click on these images to enlarge them

First is maybe.... Cruzeiro Do Sul

Below it is maybe.... Templar

Further down is maybe... Kaduna ...or Kadura

Further down maybe... La Manche

Just below that ......Barbanihalis (or something)

Still further down..... Prins W J or G Frerderick

And also on that page for 28th June at 2045 arrives "Somme" at berth 65 annexe.   I had never heard of "65 annexe"     Can anyone enlighten me? 

A Manson replies "berth 65 Plantation was an Annex abutting on the West end of Mavisbank Quay."    and Kaduna was owned by Paddy Henderson, vessels trading to Burma and associated areas.

Prinz Willem 1V and Prinz W J Fredrick were owned by Dutch Company Oranje Lijn and traded to, and spent some time in the Great Lakes.

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CAN YOU HELP   What is the name of this ship?  Is it Sunnarhav or Sunnanhav.  She arrived in Glasgow on 6th July 1965.  Just to allow continuity of entering details, the ship is listed in events as being "Sunnanhav" unless otherwise corrected.

A Manson replies : "Sunnanhan" could possibly have been owned by Saguenay Terminals who prefixed several of their ships names by "Sun"

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CAN YOU HELP   The vessel "Mango" or "Manyo" arrived at Princes Dock from Ardrossan on 14th July 1965, draft 5' 10" forard and 12' 8" aft, which would be the draft of a coaster.  But the logbook shows her sailing on 18th July for Three Rivers (Canada) draft forard 17' 07" and aft 19' 06"   Any thoughts or information on this vessel would be welcome. 

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THANKS FOR THE MEMORY   Mrs  Margaret Buckner e-mails from Canada.

"I was browsing and chanced on your website, and was astonished to discover mention of the Donaldson ships taking passengers from Princes Dock to Montreal.   I was a little girl in 1960 when my folks emigrated from Kirkintilloch to Canada on Laurentia, and it was a very rough crossing, but was calm when we passed Newfoundland.  The mention of "Laurentia" brought the memories flooding back, having been forgotten for 50 years. Thanks for bringing back the memory.

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CAN YOU HELP   : This interesting little advert was in the 23rd June 1906 issue of "Largs and Millport Weekly News"   Note the early start for the days sailing, and the unusual name "Bute 4"     Any information on the firm or the vessels?   Click on the image to enlarge it to full size.

     

A Manson replies: For full history on SS Bute suggest Logging on" SS Bute at Greenock" With information regarding builders of same and SS Kyle then follow Princess Alice Disaster where all will be revealed re ultimate fate of Vessel. 

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CAN YOU HELP  : The vessel "Cedric" arrived at KG5 on 10th October 1967. It's difficult to decipher where she came from.  Any suggestions?  Click on the image to enlarge it.

A Manson writes : 
The "Cedric" which arrived at KG5 dock 10th October 1967 would have come from Napier, New Zealand, where she would have loaded refrigerated cargo, e.g. lamb, butter, etc. This was a regular run for vessels belonging to the New Zealand Shipping Company.

A Manson writes :

Ref. the "Cedric" The port referred to is Napier New Zealand.

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CAN YOU HELP   This vessel "Stern" or "Stein" arrived KG5.   Is the name "Stern" or "Stein"    Click on the image to enlarge it.

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CAN YOU HELP   : What is the name of this 1967 arrival.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

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CAN YOU HELP  : Falcon Reefer arrived from USA and Newfoundland.   Which was the USA port concerned?   Click on the image to enlarge it.

A MANSON replies: Gloucester Massachusetts USA is on of America's oldest Ports.

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CAN YOU HELP  : Harrison's "Statesman" in Jan 1968 at Shieldhall Riverside Quay conducted an engine test.   What is the word after the test.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

A Manson writes :

Ref. the engine test on "Statesman" at Riverside Shieldhall . The engines would have been run on slow speed. Vessels having such must be securely moored probably with insurance wires as an added precaution .

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