Latest Events

This page shows the 100 latest events.

What/When	Ship
News Event Thursday, February 4, 1960 @ 1700	KYPROS (1950-1967 then 1967-1971 of Moss Hutchison Line, Liverpool then 1971-1976 P & O General cargo Division)	Own Page
KYPROS closes at Glasgow for receiving cargo for Mediterranean ports
Sailing for Tripoli (Libya), Beyrout, Tripoli (Lebanon), Lattakia, Iskenderun and Mersin Port of Registry Liverpool Sailed from berth Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Moss Hutchison Line Ltd., 91 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, C.2. Tel. CENtral 6643
News Event Monday, February 22, 1960 @ 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
Sailing for Marseilles (France), Genoa, Leghorn, Naples and Sicily (all Italy) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailed from berth Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 1,170 Ships agent John Scott & Co. (Shipping) Ltd., 45 Renfield Street, Glasgow C. 2. Gross Tonnage 2,346 Deadweght Tonnage 3,500
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1248	KITIKMEOT W (2018-- Chemical / Oil Products Tanker : IMO 9421219 : 150m overall of Coastal Shipping Ltd - Goose Bay, Canada)	Own Page
KITIKMEOT W arrives in Firth of Clyde and passes Greenock on her way upriver to Clydebank
Ship's location Arriving in Firth of Clyde, off Dunoon and passing Greenock on her way upriver to Clydebank Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands : country of more than 1,200 islands and atolls in Central Pacific Ocean) Arrived from Rotterdam (Netherlands) Gross Tonnage 13,097 Sailing for Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 19,983 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades
Contributed by Sandra B (Site Administrator : Gourock) 12:48    KITIKMEOW W arrives in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland) and passes the town of Dunoon on her way to Clydebank,   13:14   And now at Custom House Quay, Greenock.    Tug CMS WRESTLER passes the quay ahead of and escorting KITIKMEOW W and when they arrive at Rothesay Dock, Clydebank the tug will attach the tow line to the bow of the tanker and assist her into the Fuel Terminal.    Additionally, the powerful tug SVITZER MILFORD is stationed at the stern of the tanker and will help to berth the ship.    13:20    KITIKMEOT W and her stern tug SVITZER MILFORD pass Greenock Ocean Terminal on their way up the River Clyde for Clydebank. Tug SVITZER MILFORD at the stern of the tanker
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1151	ARGYLL FLYER (2011- A 188- Passenger ferry 30m long of Argyll Ferries, Ferry Terminal, Gourock)	Own Page
ARGYLL FLYER on passage from Dunoon to Gourock (Firth of Clyde) with Holy Loch in the background
Ship's location On passage from Dunoon to Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) with Holy Loch in the background Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Arrived from Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 172 Sailing for Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1009	SCOT TRADER (2023-- General cargo ship IMO 9728784 : 89.98m overall of ScotLine, Romford, England)	Own Page
SCOT TRADER passing Custom House Quay, Greenock on passage up River Clyde to Glasgow
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) on passage upriver to Glasgow Port of Registry Douglas (Isle of Man, UK) Arrived from Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) then Anchorage B1 off Gourock (Firth of Clyde) Net Tonnage 2,201 Sailing for Berth 9 King George V Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 3,457 Cargo carried on arrival Logs
News Event Sunday, February 16, 2025 @ 1600		Own Page
Scottish Government considers buying Ardrossan Harbour
From BBC Scotland Online News 19 February 2025   Government considers buying Ardrossan harbour Image source,Tom Lennon Image caption, The development of Ardrossan Harbour has been stalled for years in a stand-off between the government and its private owner Published 6 hours ago The Scottish government is looking into buying Ardrossan Harbour, the development of which has been stalled for the last seven years. The site needs an estimated £80m upgrade but there has been no agreement between owner Peel Ports, the Scottish government and North Ayrshire Council over who should pay. Two new ferries being deployed on CalMac's Arran route are also too big to fit the harbour's short jetty, ultimately limiting the number of sailings to and from Arran. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed funding for a deal to purchase the North Ayrshire site had been set aside in the upcoming budget. Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? Published 13 January For decades, Ardrossan has been the gateway to Arran but at present, neither the new CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox, nor the chartered catamaran Alfred are able to berth at the existing facilities. They are currently sailing from Troon instead. In fact no CalMac ships at all have sailed from Ardrossan since mid-January, when Glen Sannox entered service. Sailings are expected to resume when MV Caledonian Isles returns next month after repairs. The Ardrossan Harbour Project was given the go-ahead in 2018 by then transport minister Humza Yousaf who promised the North Ayrshire town would remain the main gateway to Arran. But Transport Scotland paused the project in 2023 following concerns about rising costs, and said a new business case would be developed. Last month Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of government-owned ferries and harbours body CMAL, told MSPs that talks with the port's private owner about funding remained "in the middle of nowhere". Glen Sannox and its sister ship Glen Rosa, due for delivery in the autumn, will also have to rely on road tankers for their liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling because no dedicated facilities have yet been constructed. CMAL awarded a contract to build the LNG storage and fast refuelling station to a Danish company in 2020 - but Mr Hobbs said construction could not begin until a firm decision was taken on where the new ferries would be based. Image source,PA Media Image caption, The Glen Sannox ferry arriving in Brodick on Arran from Troon on its first official day in service (with the catamaran Alfred in the background) On Wednesday Hyslop said she had instructed Transport Scotland and CMAL to explore the potential purchase. "I have taken this step to ensure we make progress on finding a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost-effective way," she said. The transport secretary said that negotiations on delivering improvements at the port had been "complex" and a decision had not been reached on the commercial approach. This, she said, had led to uncertainty that communities in Arran and Ardrossan "cannot afford". She said: "The owners of Ardrossan Harbour, Peel Ports Group, have highlighted that they continue to invest in the harbour to ensure it remains operational. "We all absolutely understand people and communities' views in favour of retaining Ardrossan as the mainland port and remain committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future. "Discussions around the potential change of ownership are progressing at pace and in good faith and I'm confident this will bring reassurance to everyone with an interest in the Arran Ferry service."   Future of harbour Peel Ports welcomed the announcement and said it had spent several million pounds to "maintain the critical service and designing and securing necessary consents" for the harbour's redevelopment. Port director Jim McSporran added: "It is important to clarify that despite repeated and incorrect reports, at no point has Peel Ports Group neither received or spent 'millions of pounds' of public funds to upgrade the harbour during its ownership. "Regardless of the outcome of this process, our willingness to invest in the harbour remains steadfast." Matthew McGowan, from the Save Adrossan Harbour campaign group, said he was concerned by the news, as well as the lack of a timescale from the Scottish government. He told BBC Scotland News that he thought ministers were still in negotiations on the previous development plan and added there had not been a "great amount of transparency". Mr McGowan said: "Now we've got a whole new situation that requires further discussion and investigation. "We'd like [the Scottish government] to engage with the community because right now that's not happening. People are left in limbo and we need things on track as soon as we can." He said local residents and businesses had seen a negative impact in Ardrossan since the ferry route moved to Troon. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns welcomed the news and said the Ardrossan to Brodick route was the "shortest, fastest, greenest and cheapest route" which served people in Arran best. She said: "There has been understandable anxiety over the future of the facility however we have always been confident that the economic, environmental, practical and social case for retaining and improving Ardrossan Harbour was overwhelming. "We are delighted that the Scottish government has recognised this uncertainty and has committed to push forward discussions at pace around the potential change of ownership at the harbour. "We hope this is key moment towards securing the future of a key infrastructure facility which will deliver a more resilient service to Arran." Ferries union RMT said the announcement was a "vital step forward" and one that must lead to full public ownership. General secretary Mick Lynch said: "For too long, private interests have drained vital resources while neglecting essential maintenance, leaving workers and passengers to deal with the consequences. "A publicly owned and operated Ardrossan Harbour would ensure that every penny is reinvested into improving services, upgrading infrastructure, and securing long-term economic stability for the region."
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1018	ANGLEGARTH (1996- Tug 33m long of Svitzer A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark / Managers: Svitzer Marine Ltd, Middlesbrough)	Own Page
ANGLEGARTH passing Custom House Quay, Greenock heading for Inchgreen Wall, Great Harbour
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) heading for Inchgreen Wall Port of Registry Milford (Wales, UK) Ships agent Svitzer Marine Ltd., Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 374 Deadweght Tonnage 290
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1450		Own Page
Cloch Lighthouse (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Wednesday, February 19, 2025 @ 1000 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	KITIKMEOT W (2018-- Chemical / Oil Products Tanker : IMO 9421219 : 150m overall of Coastal Shipping Ltd - Goose Bay, Canada)	Own Page
KITIKMEOT W discharging oil grades at Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (Scotland)
Ship's location Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands : country of more than 1,200 islands and atolls in Central Pacific Ocean) Arrived from Rotterdam (Netherlands) Gross Tonnage 13,097 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades Deadweght Tonnage 19,983
An unusual name, in't it ?   The owners are Canadian.    So looking up Brittanica : Kitikmeot, westernmost of the three regions of Nunavut territory, Canada. It was designated the Central Arctic region of the Northwest Territories in 1981, being formed from the northern part of Fort Smith region. In 1982 it received its present name, which is the traditional Inuit word for the area. It is bordered by the Northwest Territories (west and south) and the Nunavut regions of Keewatin (east and south) and Baffin (north and east). The region encompasses the central Arctic coast, extending inland (south) below Napaktulik Lake and eastward to include Boothia Peninsula. It also includes King William Island, as well as parts of Prince of Wales and Somerset islands and the Nunavut portion of Victoria Island. Lying mainly above the Arctic Circle, the region’s landscape is characterized by tundra vegetation. Cambridge Bay (Ikaluktutiak) on Victoria Island is the regional headquarters. Among the other small settlements are Kugluktulea, Gjoa Haven (Uqsuqtuq), and Taloyoak (Talurruaq). Inuit form the great majority of the population. Pop. (2006) 5,361; (2011) 6,012.   So now that you know of the vessel's ancestry here is the ship     Contributed by Robert McManus
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 1453	AURORA (in 2025 Container ship at Greenock)	Own Page
AURORA arriving in Firth of Clyde, off Cloch Lighthouse, then berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal
Ship's location Arriving in Firth of Clyde, off Cloch Lighthouse (Scotland) then berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal Arrived from Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Containers
14:53   A bitterly cold and extremely wintry afternoon when AURORA arrived in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland) with containers from Belfast (Northern Ireland)    Ploughing powerfully at 14 knots into a strong Northerly wind the ship is shown here passing the town of Dunoon on her port side, the hills behind with the remnants of the previous day's snowfall.        The next four images were taken from Cloch Lighthouse on the East side of the Firth, two miles accross opposite Dunoon.   15:22   And now AURORA was slowly approaching the container terminal.     Passing Greenock Esplanade :  tug ANGLEGARTH had met AURORA off Fort Matilda (= at the west end of Greenock Esplanade) and was closing to the stern of the container ship to attach a tow line. Tug ANGLEGARTH assisting at stern of AURORA Tug ANGLEGARTH assisting AURORA to berth at West end of container berth 15:35   AURORA approaching the container berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal
News Event Tuesday, February 18, 2025 @ 0930	SKUA (2010-- Pilot Boat Interceptor Class 48 : 14.5m overall and operational speed of 24 knots of Peel Ports and based in Clyde at Greenock, Scotland)	Own Page
Pilot Boat SKUA leaves Estuary Control, Greenock to board Pilot onto SCOT TRADER off Gourock
Ship's location Estuary Control, Greenock OceanTerminal (Firth of Clyde,Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Sailing for To meet and board Pilot onto incoming SCOT TRADER off Gourock (Firth of Clyde)
News Event Monday, February 17, 2025 @ 1054		Own Page
How do the entries on your website work ? ....... e-mail on 17 February 2025
By e-mail 17 February 2025 from Stephen (Bristol, England, UK) How do the entries on your website work ? Douglas replies :    Essentially there are two methods of adding / editing or deleting entries on the website.    The main entry  is that what the viewer / reader will see when looking at the website.   That is    The Home page (front page) is the first page you would see.    At the top is usually an image / photograph simply to show roughly what type of items are on the website.   Some items from the past and present are also shown.      At the top left-hand corner is "Search Events"   This is the Search tool .... every entry on the website can be found by using this tool.      Next tool is "Latest Entries"      This shows the latest 100 interesting / colourful / unusual / informative / news-worthy items which have been put onto the website.     NOTE that it is the latest 100 interesting ..... etc.  Of course these 100 items are also on the Search tool.  Why 100 items ?      A reader may only want to see the most interesting / colourful etc. items and may not want the commonplace ... example ... ship movements, changing berth and the like, so we decided upon the 100 interesting items which will constantly update.      When 101-st item is added then the item at 100-th will drop off, so that only 100 items remain on the list.   The items which drop-off are still to be found on the Search Tool, and are certainly not lost into oblivion or cyber-space.   And there is the other method of adding / editing or deleting entries on the website.    This is used by the site's Administrators and Moderators.      You will understand that these wonderfull and enthusiastic people can use a method which does not add items to "100 Latest Entries" .... for example, an Administrator in Australia has just added around thirty items of "Ships in Port at Melbourne, Australia in January 1962."   These 30 individual entries are on the "Search Tool" and can be found by using the ship's name or a Search-by-date.   Hope this clarifies the Entries / Events question.
News Event Thursday, October 6, 1966 @ 1845	THORSORIENT (1964-1975 General cargo ship 462 feet overall of Norse Oriental Line / Thor Dahl Hvalfangerselskap og A/S Ornen, Sandefjord, Norway : 1978 scrapped at Santander, Spain)	Own Page
THORSORIENT arrives in Sydney (Australia) after being damaged by huge seas and wind in Bass Strait
Arrived from Melbourne (State of Victoria, Australia) Port of Registry Sandefjord (Norway) Arrived in berth Sydney (State of New South Wales, Australia) Gross Tonnage 5,684 Master of vessel on arrival Captain Rolf Roed Deadweght Tonnage 9,398 Ships agent H. C. Sleigh, Sydney, Australia
Contributed by Frank Fisher (Sydney, Australia)
News Event Wednesday, May 5, 1954 @ 0800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	PALAMCOTTA (1945-1961 General cargo ship of British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London)	Own Page
British India's PALAMCOTTA at Colombo (Ceylon) slightly damaged after a fire in her cargo of coal
Ship's location Colombo (Ceylon = in 1972 renamed as Sri Lanka) Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Arrived from Calcutta (India) Gross Tonnage 6,704 Cargo carried on arrival Coal 8,000 tons for Ceylon Government Railways
News Event Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 1535	ARGYLE (2006- Passenger and vehicle ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
ARGYLE approaching Wemyss Bay Pier from Rothesay
Ship's location Approaching Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde) inbound with passengers and vehicles from Rothesay Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Arrived from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
ARGYLE is now raising her bow visor as approaching the vehicle ramp at Wemyss Bay
News Event Tuesday, October 8, 1968 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	CITY OF PORT ELIZABETH (1952-1971 Passenger / cargo liner of Ellerman Line, London))	Own Page
Ellerman's CITY OF PORT ELIZABETH at Cape Town (South Africa) in 1968
Ship's location Cape Town (South Africa) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Ships agent Ellerman & Bucknall (Pty) Ltd., Port Elizabeth (South Africa)
Image contributed by Martin H (London)
News Event Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 1505	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
BUTE 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 (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland) Sailed from berth Wemyss Bay (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 1320	SVITZER WARDEN (2007- Tug 24m long of Svitzer Towage)	Own Page
SVITZER WARDEN passing Custom House Quay, Greenock to meet incoming tanker DAN CISNE
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry U.K. Arrived from Inchgreen Wall, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 207 Sailing for To meet incoming tanker DAN CISNE at entrance to Loch Long Deadweght Tonnage 150
News Event Wednesday, February 12, 2025 @ 1422	DAN CISNE (2011-- Crude Oil / Shuttle Tanker IMO No: 9513440 : 207m overall of Knutsen Group / Knutsen OAS Shipping AS, Haugesund, Norway)	Own Page
DAN CISNE passes Dunoon in the Firth of Clyde on her way to Finnart Oil Terminal
Ship's location Passing Dunoon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) inbound for Finnart Oil Terminal Port of Registry Kobenhavn (= Copenhagen, Denmark) Arrived from Dumbarton Oil Field (Central North Sea) Gross Tonnage 36,303 Sailing for Jetty 3, Finnart Oil Terminal, Loch Long (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 57,625 Cargo carried on arrival Crude oil
The tanker is now altering course to head for thr entrance to Loch Long where she will meet the three tugs SVITZER WARDEN, SVITZER MILFORD and ANGLEGARTH who will escort her to the Finnart Oil Terminal.
News Event Sunday, July 23, 1967 @ 0110	ADELAIDE STAR (1950-1975 Refrigerated cargo liner 574 feet overall of Blue Star Line / Lamport & Holt Line, London))	Own Page
ADELAIDE STAR arrives at King George V Dock, Glasgow to load cargo for Australia
Arrived from London (England, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived in berth 2 King George V Dock, Shieldhall, Govan, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) with her head south Sailing for Stobcross Crane, Glasgow then to Australia for Fremantle, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane Sailed from berth 2 King George V Dock, Shieldhall, Govan, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) with her head south Draught forward on arrival 16 feet Draught aft on arrival 22 feet Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no cargo on board Commened loading outward cargo 23 July at 0800 Outward cargo General cargo (part outwards) 1,800 tons Stevedore loading outward cargo Strathclyde Stevedores Heavy lifts loaded 25 July loaded 9 lifts total 125 tons : 26 July loaded 6 lifts total 83 tons, all by NEWSHOT Completed loading outward cargo 26 July at 2045 Draught forward on sailing 18 feet 6 inches Draught aft on sailing 28 feet 3 inches Ships agent J J S Nowery & Co. Ltd., 93 Hope Street, Glasgow C.3. Tel. 041-221-3775 Sailed 0230 on 27 July, moving upriver to Stobcross Crane, Glasgow
Images contributed by Tony Fletcher
News Event Wednesday, July 23, 1952 @ 1000 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	UNITED STATES (1952-1969 Passenger liner 990 feet long (302 metres) of United States Lines, New York)	Own Page
Postcard of maiden voyage of UNITED STATES, date stamp 23 July 1952 at Isle of Wight, England
Ship's location Arriving at Southampton (England, UK) Port of Registry New York City (USA)
News Event Sunday, February 18, 1968 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	SAVANNAH (1962-1972 Nuclear powered cargo / 60-passenger ship 596 feet 181.66m overall of US Maritime Administration / States Marine Lines / American Export -Isbrandtsen Lines : 1981 - Museum ship)	Own Page
Postcard showing nuclear powered ship SAVANNAH passing through the Panama Canal
Ship's location Passing through the Panama Canal Port of Registry Savannah (Georgia, USA) Gross Tonnage 13,599 Deadweght Tonnage 9,900
NS Savannah NS Savannah reaching the Golden Gate Bridge in 1962 History  United States Owner US Maritime Administration[1] Operator 1962–1965: States Marine Lines, Inc. 1965–1972: American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines[2][unreliable source?] Port of registry Savannah Ordered 1955 Builder New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, United States Cost $46,900,000 ($18,600,000 for the ship, and $28,300,000 for the nuclear plant and fuel) Yard number 529[2] Launched July 21, 1959[2] Sponsored by Mamie Eisenhower Completed December 1961[2] Acquired May 1, 1962[2] Maiden voyage August 20, 1962[2] In service 1964[2] Out of service January 10, 1972[2] Identification IMO number: 5314793 Callsign: KSAV Status Museum ship General characteristics Type Nuclear-powered cargo ship Tonnage 13,599 gross register tons (GRT); 9,900 long tons deadweight (DWT)[2] Length 596 ft (181.66 m) Beam 78 ft (23.77 m) Installed power One 74 MW Babcock & Wilcox nuclear reactor (LEU <= 4.6%[3]) powering two De Laval steam turbines[2] Propulsion 20,300 hp (15,100 kW) (designed) single shaft Speed 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (service speed)[2] 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) (maximum speed) Range 300,000 nmi (560,000 km; 350,000 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) on one single load of 32 fuel elements Capacity 60 passengers 14,040 ton cargo capacity Crew 124   Savannah (nuclear ship)
News Event Monday, February 10, 2025 @ 1745		Own Page
When Grangemouth Refinery closes will tankers still come to Finnart and Rothesay Dock, Clydebank
=================================================== 17:45 on 10 February 2025 E-mail from David (Dumbarton, Scotland)    Grangemouth Oil Refinery (near to Edinburgh, Scotland) is Scotland's only refinery and is due to close in summer 2025.    When it closes will oil tankers still keep coming to Finnart Terminal in Loch Long and also to the Fuel Terminal at Rothesay Dock, Clydebank  ? ====================================================
News Event Thursday, June 10, 1965 @ 1400 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	CRUISER (1953-1969 Shiphandling Tug 122 feet 5 inches overall of Steel & Bennie Tugowners, Glasgow : 1969 sold and renamed ARDNEIL)	Own Page
Tug CRUISER passing Springfield Quay, Glasgow
Ship's location River Clyde at Glasgow (Scotland, UK) passing Springfield Quay Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Steel & Bennie Ltd., tug owners, Glasgow Gross Tonnage 304
Image contributed by Jim Henderson.   The correct date and time of the photograph are unknown and the parts shown here are simply an estimate.    In the background at Lancefield Quay, Glasgow are two Burns & Laird vessels, LAIRDSGLEN (on the left) and SCOTTISH COAST (on the right)   As a little snippet of information, CRUISER was sold in 1969 to Ardrossan Harbour Company and renamed ARDNEIL and remained working at Ardrossan until being sold in 1978
News Event Saturday, August 25, 1973 @ 0800	BENCAIRN (1970-1975 General / refrigerated cargo liner (formerly Ellerman's CITY OF BRISBANE) of Ben Line Steamers, Edinburgh)	Own Page
Ben Line's BENCAIRN voyage diary from August 1973 to delivered to shipbreakers in March 1975
Port of Registry Leith (Scotland) Gross Tonnage 10,595 Deadweght Tonnage 13,249
BENCAIRN leaving Cape Town (South Africa) probably to be for Hamburg (Germany) on 7 November 1974    Image contributed.
News Event Friday, June 4, 1965 @ 1000	ASHTON (1938-1965 a twin-screw 72-Passenger ferry 63 feet long of British Railways Board / Caledonian Steam Packet Company, Gourock)	Own Page
1965 Advert for Caledonian Steam Packet's ASHTON and LEVEN offered for sale
Ship's location Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Net Tonnage 17 Gross Tonnage 38
News Event Friday, February 7, 2025 @ 2025	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
New Caledonian MacBrayne ferry GLEN SANNOX booked in to Greenock for snagging repairs
Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland online news 7 February 2025 New CalMac ferry booked in for snagging repairs   Image source,PA Media Image caption, CalMac described the performance of Glen Sannox since entering service as "first class" Published 7 February 2025 The latest ferry to join Scotland's CalMac's west coast fleet is to be taken out of service for a week for snagging repairs. MV Glen Sannox will move to Greenock from Sunday 23 February, six weeks after entering service, for "planned essential maintenance", the ferry operator said. During the week, a permanent fix will be made for an issue with the ship's anchor mechanism which was identified last year, and several other "minor remedial issues" will be dealt with. MV Isle of Arran will be redeployed to cover Troon to Arran services until Glen Sannox returns to service on Monday 3 March.   Glen Sannox, built by the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow, has been at the centre of a long-running political controversy after a series of issues led to delays and cost overruns. But CalMac said the new ship, the first large vessel to join the fleet in a decade, had performed exceptionally well since it began scheduled sailings on 13 January. Delayed island ferry Glen Sannox begins sailings Published 13 January Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? Published 13 January A spokesperson said: "MV Glen Sannox's performance since entering service has been first class. "We're delighted with how resilient she has proven, particularly when operating in weather conditions which have led to other services on the network being disrupted. "We anticipate losing a number of return sailings to technical issues when any new vessel enters service, but MV Glen Sannox has outperformed our expectations." Image source,Tom Lennon Image caption, The "Auld Trooper" MV Isle of Arran will cover services while Glen Sannox is away for maintenance A problem with the retrieval mechanism for the emergency anchors was identified during the ship's final approval trials by regulators, but a temporary solution was agreed so that the ship could enter service in January. Replacement parts have now arrived, and these will be fitted at Inchgreen, just a short distance downriver from the Ferguson shipyard which is still building an identical sister vessel, Glen Rosa. The 41-year-old MV Isle of Arran, which will provide cover for Glen Sannox, is also a Ferguson-built ship. Nicknamed "The Auld Trooper" by ferry users because of its longevity, the ship is currently operating between Oban and Craignure on the Isle of Mull.
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1239	SOUND OF SEIL (2013- roro ferry of Western Ferries, Hunters Quay, Scotland)	Own Page
SOUND OF SEIL (on left) and SOUND OF SOAY (on right) pass in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) : between McInroy's Point and Hunter's Quay Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.)
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1543		Own Page
Garvel Drydock, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) with HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS and CALEDONIAN ISLES
Ship's location Garvel Drydock, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1520	PRINCE MADOG (2001- Research vessel 34.9 metres long of University of Bangor, Wales / Managed by P & O Maritime Services, London, UK)	Own Page
PRINCE MADOG at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock for maintenance
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Beaumaris (Wales, UK) Gross Tonnage 390
Research Vessel Prince Madog State-of-the-art, purpose built research vessel commissioned by Bangor University using a £2.8 million Joint Infrastructure Fund grant. Managed and operated by P&O Maritime Services, delivered and in service July 2001. The vessel enables the UK's marine scientists to study the biology, chemistry, geology and physics of our seas. Designed to take up to ten scientists and 20 students.  The School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor and other university departments in the UK also use the vessel as a teaching platform, training the next generation of marine scientists. Full details and specifications Prince Madog (P&O Maritime Services) Build Number 3485 Gross Tonnes 390 tonnes Length Overall 34.9m Breadth Moulded 8.5m Draft max 3.5m Endurance 10 days between ports Scientific Berths 9 + 1 Crew 8 Constructed Visser, 2001 Design Speed 10.5 knots Actual Speed 12 knots Propulsion 1080kW Bow Thruster 150kW Equipment Reson 7125 dual frequency (200 kHz and 400 kHz) SeaBat Multi-beam system. Teledyne RD Instruments (RDI) Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling system 300 kHz Simrad HPR-410P Hydroacoustic Positioning reference system Simrad EK60 Scientific echosounder 120kHz and 38kHz split beam transducers Geoacoustics 5 to 7 kHz Pinger QTC Seabed discrimination system Underway sampling and meteorological package Water purification system Walker Marine Aquaprobe speedlog Trimble DGPS 12 channel receiver Scientific Fridge and Freezer Seabird SBE 911plus CTD with SBE32 water sampler CTD cable 1000m Hydrographic winch Telephone +44 (0)1248 382902  Satellite phone: 00870 323523411  School Fax +44 (0)1248 716367    Who was Prince Madog?  According to Welsh legend, Madog was one of the sons of Owain, Prince of Gwynedd (North Wales). On the death of his father in 1170, Madog is supposed to have set sail with a shipload of companions on a westward course. He is reputed to have reached America, left some of his party, returned to Wales for additional compatriots, and repeated the crossing of the Atlantic. As a result of this story the belief grew up that somewhere in North America there existed a tribe of white Indians who spoke perfect Welsh, produced supposedly by the inter-marriage of the original Welsh seafarers and indigenous inhabitants as in Patagonia today. As for Madog himself, there is no historical proof of his existence. A medieval poem refers to Madog ab Owain Gwynedd as a sailor; and, quite probably, the Welsh Tudors used the story for propaganda purposes to challenge Spanish claims to the New World. Romantically, however, and particularly in view of the maritime traditions of North Wales, it is perhaps fitting that this research vessel should bear the name of Madog, the legendary marine explorer of an earlier age.
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1427	SD ORONSAY (2000- IMO 9201607 Naval Auxiliary passenger ferry 27m long)	Own Page
SD ORONSAY passes Custom House Quay, Greenock on her way from Faslane to Great Harbour
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, U.K.) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 199 Sailing for Great Harbour, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 109
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1113	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
BUTE 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 (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Rothesay (Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1300	ARGYLL FLYER (in 2023 a 188 passenger ferry 30m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's ARGYLL FLYER on passage from Dunoon to Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland)
Ship's location On passage from Dunoon to Gourock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1521	LOCH PORTAIN (2003- Ro-ro passenger ferry 50m overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's LOCH PORTAIN at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock
Ship's location Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow
LOCH PORTAIN is specially designed for the Berneray – Leverburgh shallow water service on Harris in the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1400	SD IMPETUS (1993- Tug IMO 9050802 : 32.53m overall length of Serco Marine Services, London)	Own Page
SD IMPETUS was passing Custom House Quay, Greenock on her way to Great Harbour (Greenock)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Arrived from HMNB (= His Majesty's Naval Base) Faslane (Gare Loch, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 319 Sailing for Great Harbour, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 92
News Event Thursday, February 6, 2025 @ 1255	AILA (2018- Container Ship IMO 9354337 MMSI 230985000 : 141m overall length of Langh Ship, Piikkio, Finland)	Own Page
AILA passing Cloch Lighthouse (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) inbound to Greenock Ocean Terminal
Ship's location Passing Cloch Lighthouse (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) inbound to West Berth Greenock Ocean Terminal Port of Registry Helsinki (Finland) Arrived from Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 9,131 tons Sailing for West Berth, Greenock Ocean Terminal (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 11,497 Cargo carried on arrival Containers
12:55   AILA had boarded a Clyde Pilot from the Pilot Boat MOUNT STEWART at Cumbrae Head (the Isle of Great Cumbrae) and was making her way through the Firth of Clyde to the container berth at Greenock Ocean Terminal.   The next two images were taken as she was passing Cloch Lighthouse (near Gourock)   13:28   AILA approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal where she will berth at the West end (under the container cranes)
News Event Friday, September 2, 1955 @ 1000	SAXONIA (1954- 1963 Passenger liner of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
SAXONIA tourist class passenger list for passage from Montreal (Canada) for Greenock and Liverpool
Ship's location At Montreal (Canada) commencing passage for Greenock and Liverpool Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Gross Tonnage 21,637
News Event Monday, November 18, 2024 @ 1330	HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS (1989- Passenger cruise ship 72m 236ft long of Hebridean Island Cruises, Skipton, England)	Own Page
HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock for winter lay-up
Ship's location Arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) ... tugs CMS WRESTLER and CMS BOXER Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 2,112 Cargo carried on arrival Light ship = no passengers on board Ships agent Hebridean Island Cruises (Skipton, England, UK)
News Event Monday, February 3, 2025 @ 1200		Own Page
Serco Marine Royal Navy tugboat crews vote in strike ballot
From BBC Scotland online news 3 February 2025   Royal Navy tugboat crews vote in strike ballot   Image source,PA Media Image caption, About 300 tugboat and marine services crews are being contacted in the ballot Published 3 February 2025 Royal Navy tug boat crews are being balloted for strike action amid claims they are being locked out of contract discussions. The crews, at Devonport, Portsmouth, Faslane, Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh, are employed by Serco Marine, which is in talks about renewing its Royal Navy contract. Unite, the union, said not involving the workers was "seriously endangering the fleet's ability to function safely". Serco Marine said it was "committed to keeping union members updated on any proposed changes". As part of their roles, the tugboat and marine services crews are responsible for the movement of nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers and other naval vessels in and out of ports. Unite said Serco Marine was in talks with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about renewing its 10-year £1.2bn contract but the proposed changes would impact on the crews' ability to provide a 24/7, 365-days-a-year service. It said workers had been involved in previous contract negotiations, providing insight of operations. Image source,PA Image caption, The MoD said a strike would not affect Royal Navy operational priorities Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Both Serco and the MoD need to listen to these workers. They are seafarers with decades of experience. "Without their input, the proposed contract risks losing vital jobs and the invaluable working knowledge that comes with them, seriously endangering the fleet's ability to function safely." About 300 tugboat and marine services crews are being contacted in the ballot, which runs from 3 February for two weeks. Unite national officer John McGookin said: "Our members have been forced to ballot for strike action because of their concerns that the new contract will result in afloat services that are not fit for purpose." A Serco spokesperson said: "Our discussions with the MoD regarding their requirements for the next generation in-port contract remain ongoing and we are committed to keeping union members updated on any proposed changes. "At present, the level of service we provide on our current contract remains unchanged." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Royal Navy operational priorities - including the Continuous At Sea Deterrent and aircraft carriers - will not be affected during the proposed strike. "While this is a matter between the contractor and their workforce, we stand by to assist in the resolution process where appropriate."
News Event Monday, February 3, 2025 @ 1545	CONSTANCE (2011- Multi-purpose general cargo ship IMO number 9505338 MMSI 236622000 : 86m overall of Briese Schiffahrt, Leer, Germany)	Own Page
CONSTANCE passing Braehead Shopping Mall, River Clyde, Glasgow outbound for Loviisa (Finland)
Ship's location Passing Braehead Shopping Mall, River Clyde, Glasgow Port of Registry Gibraltar Arrived from Ceuta (autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast) Gross Tonnage 2,415 Sailing for Loviisa (in the Baltic Sea, in the Gulf of Finland, Finland) Deadweght Tonnage 3,200 Sailed from berth Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) ... with her head East Outward cargo Part same inward project cargo ROB (= Remaining on board)
It was a very very dull afternoon in Glasgow with the sky overcast with heavy and grey low-lying clouds, poor visibility and a brisk and cold Easterly wind    15:29  CONSTANCE leaving the berth at Riverside, Shieldhall, Glasgow and canting in the River Clyde to face downriver for her passage to Finland.  Very poor visibility at the time. 15:45  CONSTANCE outbound and approaching and passing Braehead Shopping Mall, River Clyde, Glasgow
News Event Monday, February 3, 2025 @ 1309	SVITZER HAWK (2008- Tug 31m overall of Svitzer Towage)	Own Page
SVITZER HAWK arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock for repairs at Dales Marine Services
Ship's location Arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) for repairs at Dales Marine Services Port of Registry Bristol (England, UK) Arrived from Inchgreen Wall, Great Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 249 tonnes
News Event Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 1100	SCOT LEADER (2024- General cargo ship IMO 9963267 : 89.98m overall of Scotline, Romford, England)	Own Page
SCOT LEADER arriving at Ayr (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) with a cargo of logs from Aberdeen (Scotland)
Ship's location Arriving at Port of Ayr (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Douglas (Isle of Man, UK) Arrived from Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 2,201 Sailing for Berth 4 (River Berth) at Port of Ayr Gross Tonnage 3,457 Cargo carried on arrival Logs
10:19 SCOT LEADER approaching the fairway for Port of Ayr and waiting for her Pilot to bring her into the Harbour 10:35  Ayr Pilot Boat SCOTIA leaving Ayr with a Pilot to board the incoming SCOT LEADER 10:43 Ayr Pilot boarding SCOT LEADER  10:44 Pilot Boat SCOTIA leaving inbound SCOT LEADER 10:54 Pilot Boat SCOTIA returning to Ayr after boarding the Pilot onto SCOT LEADER 11:00  SCOT LEADER entering Port of Ayr (passing the lighthouse) Her full cargo of logs from Aberdeen (Scotland) 11:09  SCOT LEADER at Berth 4 (River Berth ) at Ayr
News Event Thursday, January 30, 2025 @ 1025	OMER SOFUOGLU (2024- General cargo ship 94m overall of Sofuoglu Shipping / Zuga Shipping, Istanbul,Turkey)	Own Page
OMER SOFUOGLU at Ayr (Firth of Clyde, Scotland) having discharged her bulk cargo from France
Ship's location Berth 15, Port of Ayr, Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Panama Arrived from France Net Tonnage 1,506 Gross Tonnage 2,705 Deadweght Tonnage 4,962
News Event Wednesday, May 15, 2024 @ 1423	CMS BOXER (2019- Towing, pushing and fire-fighting tug / workboat 21.2m overall of Clyde Marine Services Ltd., Victoria Harbour, Greenock)	Own Page
CMS BOXER at the owner's office at Victoria Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location At the owner's office at Victoria Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Clyde Marine Services, Victoria Harbour, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 149
News Event Wednesday, May 15, 2024 @ 1048	SOUND OF SEIL (2013- roro ferry of Western Ferries, Hunters Quay, Scotland)	Own Page
Boarding SOUND OF SEIL at McInroy's Point, Gourock and on passage to Hunter's Quay
Ship's location Western Ferries Terminal, McInroy's Point, Gourock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailing for Hunter's Quay (Cowal Peninsula, Firth of Clyde, Southern Scottish Highlands (Scotland, UK)) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Western Ferries, Hunter's Quay (Scotland, UK)
At McInroy's Point, Gourock, driving onto SOUND OF SEIL for her twenty minute crossing to Hunter's Quay The stylish, comfortable and spotlessly-clean passenger seating area on SOUND OF SEIL   Passing SOUND OF SHUNA on her way from Hunter's Quay to McInroy's Point Approaching Hunter's Quay (on the left) and entrance to Holy Loch SOUND OF SCARBA leaving Hunter's Quay for McInroy's Point SOUND OF SOAY at Hunter's Quay
News Event Sunday, January 26, 2025 @ 1506	LOCH FYNE (in 2025 Ro-ro ferry of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
LOCH FYNE loading at Largs and leaving for Cumbrae Slip
Ship's location Largs Slip, Largs (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Sailing for Cumbrae Slip (Isle of Great Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
15:06 and LOCH FYNE is about to start loading passengers and cars at Largs Slip 15:13 and you can feel the slight drizzle of rain in the air 15:15 Rain just starting as LOCH FYNE leaves Largs 15:16 Rain is becoming heavier as LOCH FYNE leaves  Largs 15:18  It is now heavy and torrential rain and LOCH FYNE approaches Cumbrae Slip
News Event Sunday, January 26, 2025 @ 1420	STI JERMYN (2016- Crude Oil Tanker IMO 9722596, MMSI 538006357 : 255.90m overall of Sti Jermyn Shipping Co Ltd - Monaco Ville, Monaco))	Own Page
STI JERMYN arriving in Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) with crude oil from Corpus Christi (Texas, USA)
Ship's location Arriving in Firth of Clyde, off Cloch Lighthouse (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Majuro (Marshall Islands, an island country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean) Arrived from Corpus Christi (City in Nueces County, South Texas, State of Texas, USA) .... left 5 January for UK Gross Tonnage 62,615 Sailing for Berth 3, Finnart Oil Terminal, Loch Long (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 109,999 Cargo carried on arrival Crude oil
STI JERMYN is managed by Scorpio Commercial Management Sam - Monaco Ville, Monaco and is owned by Sti Jermyn Shipping Co Ltd - Monaco Ville, Monaco The vessel is registered in Marshall Islands, an island country west of the International Date Line and north of the equator in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. STI JERMYN had boarded her Pilot at the Cumbrae Heads (at the island of Great Cumbrae, which essentially is at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde) and the Pilot will take her to the berth at Finnart. Sky is rapidly becoming heavily overcast and extremely dull and rain is imminent as STI JERMYN turns to head for the entrance to Loch Long and will meet tugs SVITZER HAWK, SVITZER WARDEN and ANGLEGARTH which will escort her through the long and narrow Loch to the Finnart Oil Terminal.   In this image the three tugs (barely visible in a rain squall and murky conditions) are almost below the snow-covered mountain and the two tiny pin-pricks of light are on the stern of the tug ANGLEGARTH
News Event Monday, January 27, 2025 @ 1000 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	PATARA (2021- Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO: 9344423 : 144.05m overall of Harren & Partner, Bremen, Germany)	Own Page
PATARA arriving at the Fuel Terminal, Clydebank with oil grades from Mongstad (Norway)
Ship's location Arriving at the Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, River Clyde (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Madeira (Portugal) Arrived from Mongstad (Norway) Gross Tonnage 12,164 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades Deadweght Tonnage 16,979
Images contributed by Robert McManus Oil Tanker PATARA was assisted into Rothesay Dock, Clydebank and to the berth by the tugs CMS WRESTLER and SVITZER WARDEN.
News Event Sunday, January 26, 2025 @ 0930	TIAN YOU (2018- General Cargo ship IMO: 9823625 : 189.99m overall of Tianyou Shipping Ltd., Hong Kong, China / COSCO Shipping)	Own Page
TIAN YOU passing Braehead Shopping Mall, River Clyde heading for Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow
Ship's location Passing Braehead Shopping Mall, River Clyde, Glasgow ..tugs SVITZER WARDEN and SVITZER MILFORD Port of Registry Guang Zhou (China) Arrived from Zhangjiagang (Central China, East China Sea, China) Gross Tonnage 26,411 Sailing for Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Deadweght Tonnage 37,559 Cargo carried on arrival Wind Turbine components
It was a bright but bitterly cold winter's morning in Glasgow, Scotland at the end of January and the early sunrise brought a temperature of -1C to greet the crew of the incoming COSCO cargo vessel TIAN YOU bringing a cargo of wind turbine components from Zhangjiagang (Central China, East China Sea, China) to adorn the Scottish countryside.   For our readers who are absolutely thirsting for knowledge of TIAN YOU's passage to Scotland then her travels were 11 November spent 14 hours in Shanghai (China) 13 November left Zhangjiagang (China) after 2 days 13 November was 1 hour in Nantong (China) 19 November left Yantai (China) after 2 days there 22 November left Shanghai (China) after 2 days there and then on passage to UK 14 December passed Kukup Island (Pontian District, Johor, Malaysia) 16 December passed Port Klang (Strait of Malacca, Malaysia) .... Port Klang, at the estuary of the Klang River was formerly known as Port Swettenham) 16 December passed Penang Island (Strait of Malacca) 2 January 2025 passed Cape Town (South Africa) ... wonder why she did not use the Suez Canal ? 15 January passed Canary Islands 19 January passed Isles of Scilly (at southern entrance to the English Channel) and then through the Irish Sea to Glasgow   TIAN YOU and accompanying tugs SVITZER WARDEN and SVITZER MILFORD nearing Braehead Shopping Mall at River Clyde, Glasgow Tug SVITZER WARDEN assisting at bow of TIAN YOU  Tug SVITZER MILFORD assisting at stern of TIAN YOU   The convoy approaching the berth, into the late January cold early morning sunrise
News Event Thursday, January 23, 2025 @ 0700		Own Page
Anger over fee plan for small boats on River Clyde
From BBC Scotland online news 23 January 2025   Anger over fee plan for small boats on River Clyde Image caption, Boat owner Ian Clark said Peel Ports are offering nothing to the community in return for the fee Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce BBC Scotland News Published 22 January 2025 Updated 1 hour ago Plans to charge a £100 annual fee to use small boats in the Firth of Clyde have prompted a backlash from owners, leisure groups and local politicians. Harbour authority Peel Ports Clydeport is proposing a "leisure vehicle conservancy fee" for boats between 6m and 24m in length. The firm, which has jurisdiction over 450 square miles of the river and nearby waters, said the charge would help cover the cost of managing leisure activity and dealing with accidents. But small boat owners have told BBC Scotland News the plan could harm leisure tourism and penalise traditional activities like fishing across a huge area. The charging zone could stretch from Albert Bridge in Glasgow as far as the island of Arran, and include sea lochs such as Loch Fyne and Gare Loch. Conservancy fees are often charged by harbours to cover the cost of services and upkeep but are usually applied to larger commercial vessels and based on gross tonnage. In the east of the country, Forth Ports provides an exemption for leisure craft in the Firth of Forth and on the Tay, while Argyll & Bute Council takes a similar approach around Oban. But Peel Ports is already levying fees for small boat owners at another port it owns, at Medway in Kent, and says it is in the "early stages" of introducing charges for the Clyde from this year. A consultation document suggests a £100 + VAT annual fee for boats regularly sailing in the Clydeport area, a £75 fee for summer-only use and a daily charge for visiting craft. Image source,Peel Ports Group Image caption, The proposed fee could extend from near Brodick to Glasgow Peel Ports said there has been a rise in vessels adrift or sunken in waters controlled by the company, as well as an increase in recovery costs. A spokesperson added: "The funds will help cover the rising costs of managing leisure vessel activity, such as the survey, marking and recovery of abandoned vessels, maintaining navigational aids, and supporting around 450 annual leisure events within the jurisdiction. "We will be holding a formal consultation, during which all marine users will be given the opportunity to share their views." Members of the Port Glasgow Boating Club, a small member-run group in Inverclyde, are among those opposing the fee plan. Some told BBC Scotland News they felt frustrated with the lack of clarity from Peel Ports. They said they have not had an opportunity to discuss the matter, and they described the fee as "extortion" of the leisure boating community. One club member, Craig Scholte, an offshore worker, said the fee would make recreational boating unaffordable for older people who rely on it as a social outlet. He said: "I don't see a purpose [for the fee] that's going to help me out sailing on the Clyde. I'm not getting anything different now than I'll be getting paying another £75-£100 per year. "If my boat broke its moorings, a squad of us from the club would go out and recover it, I wouldn't rely on Peel Ports for that. It's not a reasonable fee." Image caption, Boat owners in Port Glasgow said the fee is "extortion" of the boating community Many members of the club are retired men who once worked on the Clyde, some in the nearby Fergusons shipyard. Several of them meet daily at a small hut in the boatyard to socialise and share a cup of tea, even when they are not using their boats. Ian Clark said the fee poses challenges to retired boat owners who are on a fixed income. He said: "I've got to think whether I can afford it. It just means it makes the difference between living comfortably and watching every penny that you spend. "Peel Ports behaviour in this has been outrageous because they've taken money in the form of grants and they've given back to the community nothing. "There's no involvement in local activities, there's no consultation. I'm really quite outraged when I look at the profits they've made, hundreds of thousands a year, and what do they do for it? They do nothing for us. Really nothing."
Harbour Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 1545		Own Page
Tobermory (Isle of Mull, Western Isles of Scotland, UK) ... contributed postcard
Contributed by Lizzy (Tobermory)
News Event Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 1401	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
GLEN SANNOX arriving at Troon with passengers and vehicles from Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Ship's location Arriving at Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Arrived from Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Saturday, September 3, 1955 @ 0900	SAXONIA (1954- 1963 Passenger liner of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
Passenger programme for 3 September 1955 on SAXONIA on passage from Montreal to UK
Ship's location On passage from Montreal (Canada) for Greenock and Liverpool Port of Registry Liverpool (England, UK) Outward cargo Passengers Gross Tonnage 21,637
News Event Tuesday, October 1, 1963 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	AIMEE LYKES (around 1963 in Cape Town, South Africa)	Own Page
AIMEE LYKES at Cape Town (South Africa)
Ship's location Cape Town (South Africa) Port of Registry USA
Image contributed by Crabtree
News Event Friday, January 1, 1960 @ 1000 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	CANBERRA (1961-1997 Passenger liner 820 feet (250 m) of P & O Line, London : 1997-8 Scrapped at Gadani Beach, Pakistan)	Own Page
1960 Advert with liner CANBERRA fitted with Weir (Cathcart, Glasgow) power plant auxiliaries
Port of Registry London (England, U.K.)
News Event Thursday, August 1, 1974 @ 1000		Own Page
Ellermans Company Magazine "ON SHORE AND AFLOAT" August 1974 : change of ships' names
News Event Tuesday, November 10, 1959 @ 1813 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ALSATIA (1951-1963 General cargo liner 503 feet long of Cunard Line, Liverpool)	Own Page
Cunard Line's ALSATIA leaves Glasgow with general cargo and three giant bottles for New York (USA)
Arrived from New York (USA) via London (England) and Le Havre (France) Port of Registry Liverpool Arrived in berth 4 Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) with her head west Net Tonnage 4,098 Sailing for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK ... all in one quick word Gross Tonnage 7,242 Sailed from berth 4 Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) with her head west Deadweght Tonnage 10,750 Draught forward on arrival 18 feet 10 inches Draught aft on arrival 22 feet 6 inches Cargo carried on arrival 2½ tons of general cargo inwards (general cargo outwards) Commenced discharge of inward cargo 5 November at 1400 hours Stevedore discharging inward cargo James Spencer & Co. (Stevedores) Ltd., 165 Finnieston Street, Glasgow, C. 3. Tel.. 041-221-5224 Completed discharge of inward cargo 5 November at 1430 hours Commened loading outward cargo 5 November at 1400 hours Outward cargo 1,989 tons of general cargo Draught forward on sailing 22 feet 4 inches Draught aft on sailing 26 feet 2 inches Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309 Sailed 1813 on 10 November for New York (USA) ... Americans pronounce it as NOO YORK
News Event Friday, May 15, 1959 @ 1100 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CIRCASSIA ( 1937 - 1966 Passenger and cargo liner 483 feet long of Anchor Line, Glasgow)	Own Page
Children from Copland Road School, Glasgow visit Anchor Line's CIRCASSIA at Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow
Ship's location Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Vessel Master Captain J McGill Brown
News Event Tuesday, November 1, 1949 @ 1100 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	CAMERONIA (1921-1940 Passenger liner 678 feet long of Anchor Line, Glasgow: 1940-1948 Troopship: 1948-1953 Emigrant ship from U.K. to Australia: sold 1953)	Own Page
Image of three Barnes family children sailing on Anchor Line's CAMERONIA from Glasgow to Australia
Ship's location Central Railway Station, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (UK) Vessel Master Captain George Brown Kelly Gross Tonnage 16,280 Sailing for Sydney (Australia) Sailed from berth King George V Dock, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Passengers Ships agent Anchor Line Ltd., 14 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow C.1. tel CENtral 9309
News Event Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 1017	GUIDE US (in 2025 Inshore fishing boat GK77 at Greenock)	Own Page
GUIDE US arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Arriving at James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Arrived from Fishing in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Sailing for The Cut, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Fish
News Event Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 0942	ROVER (1964- IMO 305194 : Motor 80-passenger tender 19.8m overall of Clyde Marine Services Ltd., Greenock)	Own Page
ROVER at the Pontoon in James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Pontoon in James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Greenock (Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 23 Gross Tonnage 48
News Event Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 1009	CORUISK (2003- Ro-ro ferry 65m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
CORUISK leaves James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland) for trials in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK)
Sailing for Trials in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow Sailed from berth Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland) .. assisted by tug CMS WRESTLER Gross Tonnage 1,559 Outward cargo Light ship = no passengers or vehicles on board Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 1527	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
BUTE arriving at Wemyss Bay (Scotland, UK) with passengers and vehicles from Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Ship's location Approaching Wemyss Bay Pier (Firth of Clyde) inbound with passengers and vehicles from Rothesay Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 1412	RIX MUNTE (2018- General cargo ship IMO 9191254, MMSI 255806119 : 99.90m overall of Rix Shipmanagement Sia - Riga, Latvia)	Own Page
RIX MUNTE passes Custom House Quay, Greenock (Scotland) outbound for Copenhagen (Denmark)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Madeira (Portugal) Sailing for Copenhagen (= Kobenhavn, Denmark) Gross Tonnage 2,997 Sailed from berth Riverside Quay, Shieldhall, Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Outward cargo Refuse --- derived fuel
News Event Tuesday, July 1, 2014 @ 1200 The actual date and time are unknown and details shown here are our best estimate	DISCOVERY (Museum ship at Dundee)	Own Page
THIS ITEM IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ..... Museum ship DISCOVERY at Dundee (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Dundee (Scotland, UK)
News Event Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 1830	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's new ferry GLEN SANNOX prepares to start her passenger service ... Part 1 of 5
Ship's location Ferry Terminal, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland online news 12 January 2025   Scotland's ferries saga ship to finally set sail Calum Watson BBC News Published 2 hours ago The ship at the centre of Scotland's long-running ferries saga is scheduled to make its first passenger voyage before dawn on Monday. MV Glen Sannox is due to leave Troon harbour in South Ayrshire, bound for the Isle of Arran, on its first sailing at 06:30. But a yellow alert, external, issued by Caledonian MacBrayne on Sunday, said it may be subject to delay or cancellation due to high winds. The ship - which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago - completed a return test sailing on Sunday and is the first new large vessel to join the UK's largest ferry fleet in nearly a decade. With a capacity for 127 cars and 852 passengers, Glen Sannox will help relieve pressures on the state-owned operator which has struggled in recent years to maintain services with ageing and increasingly unreliable vessels. Image caption, The Glen Sannox completed a test sailing on Sunday ahead of its first passenger crossing on Monday The orders for the dual-fuel ships Glen Sannox and its sister vessel Glen Rosa, were placed with the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow nearly a decade ago. But acrimonious disputes over the design challenges and claims for extra costs saw the shipyard fall into administration and nationalised in 2019. The ships have ended up costing more than four times the £97m contract price and sparked arguably the longest running political row of the devolution era. CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said staff had worked hard to complete sea trials and crew familiarisation for the first gas-powered ferry built in the UK. "We are excited to welcome people on board and look forward to seeing a vessel which will bring great benefit to Arran enter service for the local community," he said. Image gallerySkip image gallery Image caption, A look inside the finished Glen Sannox - starting with the bridge Image caption, The forward observation lounge Image caption, One of the interior passenger seating areas Image caption, A lounge area on the boat Image caption, The external observation deck 1 of 5 Previous image
News Event Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 1830	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's new ferry GLEN SANNOX prepares to start her passenger service ... Part 2 of 5
Ship's location Ferry Terminal, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
Named after an Arran beauty spot, Glen Sannox will make three return sailings from Troon to the island's main town of Brodick each day. An identical vessel, Glen Rosa - still under construction at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow - is due to join it on the route at the end of the year, although it was reported at the weekend that a new six-month delay will be announced shortly., external On Sunday Glen Sannox carried passengers and vehicles on her maiden voyage after completing a test run. Mr Mackison said: "A massive effort has gone into getting MV Glen Sannox to this stage, and everyone at CalMac is excited to have her in the fleet and serving Arran." For residents on the island the arrival of the new ship should bring relief after years of transport uncertainty. Image caption, Mike Dobson, from Arran Cancer Support, says the uncertainty has taken a toll on the mental health of those needing regular mainland medical treatment Mike Dobson, chairman of Arran Cancer Support, said it had been particularly difficult for those needing hospital treatment on the mainland. "An ageing ferry fleet with lots of technical or weather-related problems has made it more difficult for people to feel that they are going to get there," he told BBC News. "It's meant more cancellations of appointments and that bears a certain weight on people and affects their mental health." Sheila Gilmore, from Visit Arran, said businesses had also been badly affected, but she was optimistic visitor numbers will now start to recover. "We are very hopeful, it's been a long struggle to get here but we have to look forward and put what is in the past behind us," she said.
News Event Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 1830	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's new ferry GLEN SANNOX prepares to start her passenger service ... Part 3 of 5
Ship's location Ferry Terminal, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
Scotland's entire west coast ferry network should also benefit as the average age of the fleet falls and new capacity allows vessels to be redeployed.     Scotland's ferries saga   For SNP politicians there will be hope the arrival of Glen Sannox heralds the end of Scotland's long-running ferries controversy, although reports of new delays for Glen Rosa mean that may be premature. The contract to build the two ships was awarded to Ferguson's in 2015, a year after it went bust. It was rescued by an investment firm led by Jim McColl, an economic adviser to the then First Minister Alex Salmond. While a decade of decline had left the Clyde's last commercial shipyard with just 76 staff when it went into administration, the businessman delivered millions of pounds of investment and rapid expansion. But construction of the dual-fuel ships soon faltered as the firm grappled with complex design challenges while trying to hit production milestones and modernising run-down facilities. Claims for extra costs led to a bitter standoff between the yard's management and state-owned ferries procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). Image source,
News Event Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 1830	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's new ferry GLEN SANNOX prepares to start her passenger service ... Part 4 of 5
Ship's location Ferry Terminal, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
Image source,PA Media Image caption, Glen Sannox was launched with much fanfare in 2017, but the ship was far from finished Glen Sannox was launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon on a blustery day in November 2017, but behind the scenes a bigger political storm was brewing. It later emerged the ship was far from finished - windows were painted on, temporary funnels were made of plywood and, more importantly, huge amounts of engineering and electrical work were still required inside. The yard's managers blamed CMAL, claiming a poorly-developed concept design, late decision-making and interference had led to unforeseen complications. CMAL said the firm had simply underestimated the complexity of the task entrusted to it and made poor management decisions. The deadlock eventually saw Ferguson's run out of money and fall back into administration in 2019, with the shipyard nationalised, saving 350 jobs. Problems continued under new "turnaround director" Tim Hair who was paid nearly £2m before a permanent chief executive was appointed in 2022. Opposition parties, meanwhile, claimed the crisis had its roots in political opportunism and incompetence by Scottish ministers. Under new boss David Tydeman, the ships' construction eventually made progress but with more huge cost increases and repeated delays. He was sacked by the Ferguson board last March, and the ship was finally delivered to CMAL, after several more short delays, in November.
News Event Sunday, January 12, 2025 @ 1830	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's new ferry GLEN SANNOX prepares to start her passenger service ... Part 5 of 5
Ship's location Ferry Terminal, Port of Troon (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
Gas-powered ships Glen Sannox is the first dual fuel ferry built in the UK capable of running on both marine gas oil (MGO), a form of diesel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). When running on gas the ship's engines are quieter and emit far lower levels of exhaust pollutants known as NOx and SOx. The climate change credentials of LNG, however, are questionable as the engines also release methane, which is a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2. The LNG fuel also has to be imported from Qatar and trucked up to Scotland from a terminal in Kent. 'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship Future of Ardrossan harbour still in limbo Despite being a high-sided vessel Glen Sannox is highly manoeuvrable and should be better able to cope with stormy weather conditions off Scotland's west coast. But the size of the ship means it is currently unable to berth at Ardrossan, the closest mainland port to Arran, unless agreement is reached on a multi-million harbour redevelopment. In addition to Glen Rosa, four other large CalMac ships are being built by a large shipyard in Turkey - though they are also delayed, by about six months. The first of those ships, MV Isle of Islay, should be delivered in the spring, with the others following on about four months apart.
News Event Tuesday, November 13, 1962 @ 1900 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	MALAITA (1933-1965 Passenger / general cargo vessel 328 feet overall of Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd, Sydney : Scrapped 1971)	Own Page
MALAITA leaves Sydney (Australia) for Papua and New Guinea via Queensland (Australia) ports
Ship's location 7 Walsh Bay, Sydney (Australia) Port of Registry Sydney (New South Wales, Australia) Sailing for Papua and New Guinea via Queensland (Australia) ports Net Tonnage 1,883 Outward cargo Passengers and general cargo Gross Tonnage 3,310 Ships agent Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., 5 Bridge Street, Sydney (Australia) Tel 80547
Contributed image
News Event Friday, January 10, 2025 @ 1030 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	FRANK ( 2008 - Chemical / Oil Products Tanker IMO: 9371787 : 148m overall of Frank Shipping Inc, Dubai, UAE)	Own Page
FRANK discharging oil grades at Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Gibraltar Arrived from Rotterdam Vondeling (Netherlands) Gross Tonnage 11,711 Cargo carried on arrival Oil grades Deadweght Tonnage 17,998
Image contributed by Robert McManus
News Event Wednesday, November 14, 1962 @ 1900	ORIANA (1961-1986 Passenger liner 804 feet long of P & O-Orient Lines / P & O Steam Navigation Company, London))	Own Page
ORIANA advert for her departure from Sydney (Australia) for North America
Ship's location Passenger Terminal, Sydney Cove, Sydney (Australia) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for North America Outward cargo Passengers Ships agent P & O - Orient Lines, Passenger Booking Office, 2 Spring Street, Sydney (Australia) Tel. 20-532
News Event Thursday, January 9, 2025 @ 1500		Own Page
Repair plan for Titan crane at James Watt Dock, Greenock after safety concerns .... PART 1 OF 2
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland online news 9 January 2025   Repair plan for iconic crane after safety alert Image caption, The James Watt Dock crane has been part of Greenock's skyline since 1917 Calum Watson BBC News Published 9 January 2025 Updated 8 hours ago Urgent repairs have been ordered on a giant Clydeside crane after fears the 107-year-old structure could be crumbling. A safety exclusion zone was ordered beneath the Titan crane at Greenock's James Watt Dock in mid-December after reports of "material" landing on a boat in the nearby marina during high winds. Heritage campaigners and local politicians have voiced concern that the category A-listed crane - one of only four surviving Titans on the Clyde - is not being properly maintained. The crane's owners say an inspection found no parts were missing but remedial works will begin in the coming weeks to allow the exclusion zone to be lifted. Image source,Inverclyde Heritage Network Image caption, The crane was used for fitting out ships when Greenock was a shipbuilding town The Greenock Titan Crane was built in 1917 by Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd - one of the leading Glasgow engineering firms of the 19th and 20th Centuries. The company built some of the UK's most famous steel structures, including the second Tay Bridge, the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London. The giant cantilever crane at Greenock stands 150ft (48m) tall and was once rated to lift 150 tonnes - the equivalent of about 30 adult elephants. In Inverclyde's shipbuilding heyday it was used for lifting the heaviest objects into ships, particularly engines which were often made by the nearby Kincaid works.     Image source,Transient Places Image caption, The James Watt Dock Titan crane, photographed some years ago. Images courtesy of Transient Places. , externalAll images are copyrighted. Image source,Transient Places Image source,Transient Places Image source,Transient Places
News Event Thursday, January 9, 2025 @ 1500		Own Page
Repair plan for Titan crane at James Watt Dock, Greenock after safety concerns .... PART 2 OF 2
Ship's location James Watt Dock, Greenock (Scotland, UK)
Image source,Transient Places Image caption, The James Watt Dock Titan crane, photographed some years ago. Images courtesy of Transient Places. , externalAll images are copyrighted. Image source,Transient Places Image source,Transient Places Image source,Transient Places 1 of 4 Previous imageNext image Slide 1 of 4, A blue painted crane photographed at night. The crane is constructed of giant latticed girders., The James Watt Dock Titan crane, photographed some years ago. Images courtesy of Transient Places. All images are copyrighted. End of image gallery The crane's category A listing means it is considered to be of national or international significance for its architecture or history. Elliott McElvie, from Inverclyde Heritage Network, said he feared the crane might be allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it has to be demolished. Three smaller cranes beside the town's Inchgreen dry dock suffered a similar fate in 2017, external when the owner, Peel, decided to blow them up. "Greenock and Port Glasgow used to have a number of Arrol cranes in the shipyards but they're all gone," Mr McElvie said. "The Titan is the only one that's left and it's sad to see it fall into a state of disrepair where the paint's peeling off it and we're getting reports that it's unsafe." More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland Local politicians from the three largest parties have united in calls for action to preserve the crane. It is owned by James Watt Dock LLP - a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Peel Group and publicly-funded urban regeneration firm Riverside Inverclyde. Recently-elected local MP Martin McCluskey wrote to the owners asking for details on the condition of the crane and plans for its preservation. "The water in Inverclyde is one of our biggest assets whether that's industry or tourism," he told BBC Scotland News. "We have a growing cruise ship market - we need to be thinking about all of these things on how we cater for a growing market for tourism. "It could easily be a tourist attraction, although that would require a lot more investment and thought."   Repair plan Brian Lavelette, property director for Peel Waters and a member of the James Watt Dock board, said a survey was ordered immediately after the first reports of falling debris 17 December. "Our contractors were able to safely access the crane and observed that they could see no part of the crane missing," he said in a new update. "We have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds over recent years towards the maintenance on the crane and as part of our ongoing commitment to its upkeep we have approved a full works proposal provided by specialist contractors with works due in the next couple of weeks. "Once these works are completed and subject to a further survey which is satisfactory to all parties, the intention is to remove the exclusion zone and withdraw the Notice to Mariners." Where are the other Titans? Image source,Getty Images Image caption, Glasgow's Finnieston Crane is the probably the best knows of the Titan cranes, becoming an iconic image of the city. The best known Titan is the Finnieston crane in central Glasgow, which has become an emblem of the city's industrial past. A few miles downriver, the Clydebank Titan crane - at the site of the former John Brown shipyard - has been turned into an award-winning visitor attraction with lift access but it is currently closed. A fourth giant cantilever crane stands at Whiteinch in Glasgow at the site of Barclay Curle shipyard while a fifth Titan in Govan was demolished in 2007 to allow development of the BAE Systems shipyard, In the east of the country, the Rosyth Titans were taken down in the 1990s. More than 40 similar cranes were manufactured worldwide, most of them designed by Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd. One Titan, built by Scottish firms in 1907, still stands in the Japanese city of Nagasaki having survived the second wartime use of an atomic bomb in 1945.
News Event Tuesday, August 6, 2024 @ 0657	BUTE (2005- IMO 9319741 Passenger / Ro-ro ferry 72m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
BUTE arriving at Wemyss Bay (Scotland, UK) with passengers and vehicles from Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Ship's location Arriving at Wemyss Bay (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Firth of Clyde (Scotland, UK) Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Saturday, August 3, 2024 @ 1305	HEBRIDEAN ISLES (1985- 2024 Ro-ro ferry 85m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's HEBRIDEAN ISLES at West Pier, Port of Troon (Ayrshire, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location West Pier, Port of Troon (Ayrshire, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland Gross Tonnage 3,040
News Event Thursday, January 9, 2025 @ 1229	EEMS DART (2002- General cargo ship IMO 9195640, MMSI 236453000 : 88.6m overall of Amasus Shipping Abel Tasmanplein 4 9934 GD Delfzijl Netherlands )	Own Page
EEMS DART at Port of Ayr, Scotland, discharging dry bulk cargo from Antwerpen (Antwerp, Belgium)
Ship's location Berth 5 Entrance to Griffin Dock, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Gibraltar Arrived from Antwerpen (Antwerp, Belgium) Cargo carried on arrival Dry bulk cargo
News Event Thursday, January 9, 2025 @ 1209	CEG COSMOS (1983- IMO 8303173 General cargo ship 63.21m long of Fehn Ship Management GmbH & Co. Ltd., Leer, Germany)	Own Page
CEG COSMOS at Port of Ayr, Scotland, discharging logs from Campbeltown (Kintyre, Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Berth 4, River Berth, Port of Ayr (Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Riga (Latvia) Arrived from Campbeltown (Kintyre, Scotland, UK) Net Tonnage 460 Cargo carried on arrival Logs Gross Tonnage 1,139
News Event Tuesday, August 6, 2024 @ 1350	BRO NISSUM (2013- Oil / Chemical Tanker IMO: 9340623 : 144.18m overall of Maersk Tankers, Copenhagen, Denmark)	Own Page
BRO NISSUM passing Greenock outbound for Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Ship's location Passing Custom House Quay, Greenock (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Lemvig (Midtjylland Region, Jutland peninsula, west Denmark) Arrived from Fuel Terminal, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank (River Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 12,105 Sailing for Amsterdam (Netherlands) Deadweght Tonnage 16,654 Outward cargo Light ship = no cargo on board
Passing liner JEWEL OF THE SEAS at the Cruise Pontoon, Greenock
News Event Friday, April 2, 1954 @ 1700 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	DURBAN CASTLE (1938-1962 Passenger / cargo liner of Union Castle Line, London)	Own Page
DURBAN CASTLE left Cape Town (South Africa) for Saint Helena (an island in the South Atlantic Ocean)
Sailing for Saint Helena (a British Overseas Territory, is an island in the South Atlantic Ocean) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailed from berth Cape Town (South Africa) Gross Tonnage 17,382
Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory, is a volcanic and tropical island, located in the South Atlantic Ocean, some 1,874 km (1,165 miles) west of the mainland of the continent of Africa,  Map of Saint Helena Location of Saint Helena in the southern Atlantic
News Event Tuesday, January 7, 2025 @ 1534		Own Page
Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment plan is in limbo, says Caledonian MacBrayne boss
Ship's location Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland Online News 7 January 2025 Lifeline harbour plan in limbo, says ferries boss Image gallerySkip image gallery Image source,Transport Scotland Image caption, Visualisations of the new Ardrossan harbour were released years ago but the redevelopment has stalled Image source,Transport Scotland Image source,Transport Scotland 1 of 3 Previous imageNext image Slide 1 of 3, A visualisation of a large harbour with two large ships moored beside a park with a marina in the background, Visualisations of the new Ardrossan harbour were released years ago but the redevelopment has stalled End of image gallery Published 7 January 2025, 16:34 GMT Updated 1 hour ago The fate of a lifeline port remains in limbo seven years after a major upgrade was promised, according to the boss of Scotland's ferries agency. Ardrossan harbour faces an uncertain future because two new ferries due to be deployed on CalMac's Arran route are too big to fit. Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of government-owned ferries and harbours body CMAL, told MSPs that talks with the port's private owner about funding remained "in the middle of nowhere". MV Glen Sannox, which enters service next week, will initially sail from Troon but will be restricted to three daily return crossings because of the extra journey time. Ardrossan will then be left with no scheduled CalMac sailings at all for two months until the old Arran vessel, MV Caledonian Isles, returns from repairs in March. The Ardrossan Harbour Project was given the go-ahead in 2018 by then transport minister Humza Yousaf who promised the North Ayrshire town would remain the main gateway to Arran. But Transport Scotland paused the project in 2023 following concerns about rising costs, and said a new business case would be developed. The existing facilities at Ardrossan are deemed too difficult for the new larger ships to berth at safely. 00:51 Media caption, The Arran berth at Ardrossan involves a notorious "handbrake turn" - negotiated here by Caledonian Isles - which is deemed too risky for the new ferries     Mr Hobbs told Holyrood's net zero, energy and transport committee , externalthe situation with Ardrossan was "frustrating", but that it was out of CMAL's control as the "lifeline harbour" was in private hands. He said no progress could be made until there was agreement on funding from three partners - Peel Ports, Transport Scotland and North Ayrshire Council. Asked where those negotiations stood, he replied: "In the middle of nowhere I think at the moment." He added: "Let's just say those amounts of money are ebbing and flowing between the three parties, which makes it very tricky." Image caption, Kevin Hobbs said plans for the Ardrossan redevelopment were "in the middle of nowhere" Glen Sannox and its sister ship Glen Rosa, due for delivery in the autumn, will also have to rely on road tankers for their liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling because no dedicated facilities have yet been constructed. CMAL awarded a contract to build the LNG storage and fast refuelling station to a Danish company in 2020 - but Mr Hobbs said construction could not begin until a firm decision was taken on where the new ferries would be based. He said he expected a minister to make an announcement on the Ardrossan project in the coming months. CalMac said operating out of Troon would inevitably result in fewer daily sailings because of the longer journey but that it would continue to work with partners to secure Ardrossan's redevelopment. A spokesperson for Ardrossan Harbour, owned by Peel Ports, said the uncertainty was "devastating for the people and businesses of Arran and Ardrossan". They added: "Peel Ports remains fully committed to the original Port redevelopment programme and is ready to begin the public procurement process once the ministerial taskforce approves the revised business case." Transport Scotland said a revised business case was almost complete but it needed to be supported by financial contributions from each of the main partners. A spokesperson said: "It is vital that these packages and legal agreements are clearly defined, affordable and ensure value for the public purse."   'Odd' payment arrangement Mr Hobbs and CMAL vessels director Jim Anderson also revealed to the committee that Glen Sannox was 90 tonnes heavier than specified when handed over by the Ferguson shipyard in November. That might result in a reduction in cargo payload when carrying freight - but this would not affect car or passenger capacity on the Arran route, they said. Mr Anderson said the achieved payload was "more than adequate for the needs, not just for that route, but for other routes". The issue of cargo payload was a source of tension between CMAL and the shipyard's former owners who said the original specification was unachievable. Kevin Hobbs was also questioned by committee convener Edward Mountain about payment arrangements for a former CMAL employee who until last year was seconded to the Ferguson shipyard. Senior technical manager Andy Crossan was engaged as project director for the new ferries in February 2022 by former Ferguson boss David Tydeman, who hoped it would mend the long-broken relationship between the shipyard and its customer.   Image caption, Andy Crossan was seconded from CMAL as project director for the new ferries being built at Ferguson shipyard Last month, the auditor general revealed, external that, in addition to his CMAL salary, Mr Crossan was given an uplift of £36,000 by Ferguson's, later rising to £54,000. The arrangement then changed again so that he was employed as a freelance consultant, and he subsequently invoiced the shipyard for nearly £145,000. Mr Hobbs said he was aware of initial financial arrangement with the CMAL employee but did not know it had been changed. He said the first he knew of it was after Mr Tydeman left the company, and he was approached by the shipyard's new chief financial officer. "I was surprised - and other emotions," he told the committee. "Let's just say I wasn't very happy." The shipyard ended the arrangement and Mr Crossan, who was turning 67, then retired, he said. Mr Hobbs agreed with the convener that it was "odd" for changes to the remuneration deal to be made without anyone at CMAL knowing about it. "I haven't got a crystal ball, and if someone doesn't come along, which is what the contract said, if there's any variations it needs to be exposed - and it wasn't," he said.
News Event Saturday, February 10, 1968 @ 1800 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	ORSOVA (1954-1974 Passenger Liner of Orient Line / P & O Line, London)	Own Page
ORSOVA scheduled to leave Sydney for Southampton (England) via many ports
Ship's location Sydney (Australia) Port of Registry London Sailing for South Africa, South America, West and North Africa, Portugal and finishing at Southampton (England) Outward cargo Passengers Ships agent P & O Lines of Australia Pty. Ltd., Sydney (Australia)
News Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1245	ISLE OF ARRAN (1984- Passenger and vehicle ferry 84.9m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Maiden voyage commeration plaque on Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF ARRAN
Ship's location In passenger lounge of Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF ARRAN Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock Pier, (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 3,296
The plaque reads Presented by Scottish Television Plc to M.V. ISLE OF ARRAN to commemorate her maiden voyage when Miss Edith Macarthur of "Take the High Road" officially opened the service Brodick Pier     16th April 1984
News Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1158	ISLE OF ARRAN (1984- Passenger and vehicle ferry 84.9m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF ARRAN arriving at Ardrossan Harbour from Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Ship's location Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Arrived from Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 3,296 Cargo carried on arrival Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock Pier, (Scotland, UK)
Harbour Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1155		Own Page
Unstable Quay notice and fence at Irish Berth, Eglinton Tidal Dock, Ardrossan Harbour (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Irish Berth, Eglinton Tidal Dock, Ardrossan Harbour (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1315	ELISABETH SCHULTE (2010- Oil / Chemical tanker IMO 9439840 : 145.15m overall of Manager: Bernhard Schulte Ltd., Limassol, Cyprus Owner: Cooildarry Shipping, Cyprus)	Own Page
ELISABETH SCHULTE anchored in Brodick Bay (Isle of Arran) awaiting a berth at Finnart
Ship's location Brodick Bay (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Douglas (Isle of Man, UK) Sailing for Finnart Oil Terminal (Loch Long, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 11,246
Harbour Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1459		Own Page
In 1950s this derelict building was Burns & Laird Lines freight office and shed at Ardrossan Harbour
Ship's location "Burns Berth" 8 Eglinton Tidal Basin, Ardrossan Harbour (Scotland, UK)
News Event Thursday, January 2, 2025 @ 1517	ISLE OF ARRAN (1984- Passenger and vehicle ferry 84.9m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
ISLE OF ARRAN leaves Ardrossan Harbour for Brodick (Isle of Arran)
Sailing for Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, U.K.) Sailed from berth Arran Berth, Ardrossan Harbour (Firth of Clyde, Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 3,296 Outward cargo Passengers and vehicles Ships agent Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland
News Event Tuesday, February 14, 1961 @ 1200 The date is correct but time is unknown and the time shown here is only our best estimate	UGANDA ((1951- 1986 Passenger (700) / refrigerated cargo liner 517 feet long of British India Steam Navigation Company / P & O, London)	Own Page
UGANDA at Gibraltar for Beira (Mozambique)
Ship's location Gibraltar Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for Beira (Mozambique : was an overseas colony of Portugal : in 1975 the country became independent) Gross Tonnage 14,464
News Event Tuesday, December 31, 2024 @ 1446	NJORD VIKING (2011- Supply vessel / Anchor Handling / Tug : IMO 9423827 : 85.2m overall of Manager: Viking Supply Ships, Frederiksberg, Denmark : Owner: Viking Supply Ships, Stenungsund, Sweden)	Own Page
Offshore multi-purpose vessel NJORD VIKING at Montrose (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Montrose ( town in Angus, East Scotland, UK, situated 28 miles (45 kilometres) north of Dundee) Port of Registry Mandal (Norway) Gross Tonnage 6,357 Deadweght Tonnage 4,416
Contributed by Debbie Boyd This first image is, from left to right : NJORD VIKING then PACIFIC DISPATCH then ATLANTIC KESTREL
News Event Tuesday, December 31, 2024 @ 1447	PACIFIC DISPATCH (2014- Offshore Supply Vessel / Anchor Handling Vessel IMO: 9456214 : 92m overall of Swire Pacific Offshore - Nicosia, Cyprus)	Own Page
Offshore multi-purpose vessel PACIFIC DISPATCH at Montrose (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Montrose ( town in Angus, East Scotland, UK, situated 28 miles (45 kilometres) north of Dundee) Port of Registry UK Gross Tonnage 6,641 Deadweght Tonnage 4,517
Contributed by Debbie Boyd This first image is, from left to right : NJORD VIKING then PACIFIC DISPATCH then ATLANTIC KESTREL
News Event Tuesday, December 31, 2024 @ 1448	ATLANTIC KESTREL (2012- Tug / Supply Vessel / Anchor Handling Vessel : IMO: 9557446 : 85.2m overall of Atlantic Towing Ltd., Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada	Own Page
Offshore multi-purpose vessel ATLANTIC KESTREL at Montrose (Scotland, UK)
Ship's location Montrose ( town in Angus, East Scotland, UK, situated 28 miles (45 kilometres) north of Dundee) Port of Registry Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada) Net Tonnage 1,856 Gross Tonnage 6,186 Deadweght Tonnage 4,500
Contributed by Debbie Boyd This first image is, from left to right : NJORD VIKING then PACIFIC DISPATCH then ATLANTIC KESTREL
News Event Friday, June 22, 1962 @ 1450	MANXMAN (1955-1982 Passenger Ferry 325 feet overall of Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd., Douglas)	Own Page
MANXMAN arrives at Ardrossan Harbour with passengers from Douglas (Isle of Man, UK)
Vessel Master W McMeiken Port of Registry Douglas ( Isle of Man ) Arrived from Douglas (Isle of Man, UK) Arrived in berth 11 Bunkering Berth, South Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan Harbour (Scotland, UK) Draught aft on arrival 12 feet 6 inches Cargo carried on arrival Passengers Ships agent Rennie & Watson, 73 Robertson Street, Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
News Event Sunday, February 20, 1955 @ 0800 The date shown is as timetabled and the time shown is our best estimste	CITY OF BATH (1952-1969 General cargo ship 464 feet long of Ellerman & Bucknall Line, London : 1972 scrapped at Castellon, Spain)	Own Page
CITY OF BATH expected to arrive at Madras then leave eastbound for Calcutta (India)
Ship's location Madras (= since 1996 renamed as Chennai : Tamil Nadu, India) Port of Registry London (England, UK) Sailing for Eastbound for Calcutta (India) Net Tonnage 3,663 Gross Tonnage 6.869 Deadweght Tonnage 10,446
The city of Madras was officially renamed Chennai on July 17, 1996 by the state government of Tamil Nadu. The name change was part of a nationwide trend to use less Anglicized names and to remove the last vestiges of British colonialism in the state.    From Indian Express (Madras Edition) 16 February 1955
News Event Monday, December 30, 2024 @ 0700	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
'Green' ferry GLEN SANNOX emits more CO2 than old diesel ship CALEDONIAN ISLES ...... PART 1 of 3
Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
From BBC Scotland online news 30 December 2024 'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship   Image source,PA Media Image caption, Glen Sannox brings greater car capacity to the Arran route but a bigger carbon footprint Calum Watson BBC News Scotland Published 5 hours ago The carbon footprint of a long-delayed new "green" ferry will be far larger than the 31-year-old diesel ship that usually serves the route between the Scottish mainland and the island of Arran. An emissions analysis by CalMac has calculated MV Glen Sannox will emit 10,391 equivalent tonnes of CO2 a year compared with 7,732 for MV Caledonian Isles. The dual-fuel ferry has more car capacity but requires larger engines which also emit methane, a greenhouse gas with a far greater global warming effect than CO2. Ferries procurement agency CMAL, which owns the ship, said the comparison was "inaccurate" as Glen Sannox is a larger vessel. The size of Glen Sannox is a factor in its carbon footprint, but so too is the liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel which is less climate-friendly than previously claimed. One expert on transport emissions told BBC News that if the "upstream" carbon cost of importing LNG from Qatar is included in the emissions calculation, it might be better to run the new ship on diesel. Prof Tristan Smith, from University College London's Energy Institute, said: "In a best case scenario there's a negligible benefit of using LNG, and at worst there would be a deterioration." Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? Published 21 November Were Scotland's new gas-powered ferries a bad choice? Published 20 April Glen Sannox is the first ferry ever built in the UK capable of running on both LNG and marine gas oil (MGO), a low-sulphur type of diesel. At its launch in 2017, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would contribute to "Scotland's world-leading climate change goals". But the LNG technology also added complexity. The Ferguson shipyard had to overcome many engineering and regulatory challenges before the ship was delivered last month, years late and over budget. The size of the ship also means it cannot berth at the usual mainland harbour at Ardrossan until a major redevelopment takes place. When it enters service next month, Glen Sannox will bring a significant increase in car capacity. It can carry 127 cars compared to about 90 for Caledonian Isles. Air pollutants, known as NOx and SOx, will be also reduced, while its power and manoeuvrability should mean fewer weather-related cancellations. But in terms of greenhouse emissions, the CalMac analysis - seen by BBC News - reveals the benefits of the LNG technology are quite small. Once methane emissions are factored in, the benefit of running the ship on LNG rather than MGO-only is less than 9%. And the increased fuel consumption of the heavier ship means its overall carbon footprint is about 35% larger than Caledonian Isles, which is due to return to the Arran route in March following repairs. Why is the ship's carbon footprint so big? The carbon emissions have nothing to do with the design and construction of Glen Sannox by the Ferguson shipyard - the yard simply built the ship it was asked for. Instead they are due to decisions taken by ferries procurement agency CMAL, ferry operator CalMac and Transport Scotland before the contract was put out to tender. The old ferry, Caledonian Isles, was designed to carry 110 cars, but modern cars are so much wider, it can now only fit about 90. Image source,Christopher Brindle Image caption, The former main Arran vessel Caledonian Isles will operate alongside Glen Sannox until the second LNG vessel Glen Rosa comes into service Glen Sannox was specified to carry 127 modern cars, or 16 HGVs, and to have a higher top speed (although this is not necessary for Arran sailings) resulting in a far heavier ship which requires bigger engines. When running on LNG, CO2 emissions are up to 25% lower - but this is almost entirely offset by the larger engine size and higher fuel consumption.
News Event Monday, December 30, 2024 @ 0700	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
'Green' ferry GLEN SANNOX emits more CO2 than old diesel ship CALEDONIAN ISLES ...... PART 2 of 3
Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
A second reason is methane. The LNG fuel mostly consists of methane, a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) 28 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year time span. A small proportion of methane always passes through the engines unburnt, and is released up the funnels - something known as "methane slip". CalMac has calculated that methane slip adds the equivalent of more than 1,800 tonnes of CO2 per year. Image caption, Glen Sannox has a huge cryogenic fuel tank in the centre of the ship which stores the LNG at minus 162C There is also no local supply of LNG in Scotland, so the gas has to be brought up from a terminal in Kent using diesel road tankers. This 445-mile road journey adds the equivalent of 140 tonnes of CO2 per year, compared to 19 tonnes for transporting MGO. Ferries procurement agency CMAL, which owns Glen Sannox and its sister ship Glen Rosa, began proposing LNG as a lower emissions ferry fuel as long ago as 2012. In a statement it said LNG was considered "the best option" at the time, and was always intended as a "transition fuel". A CMAL spokesperson added: "Due to the difference in vessel size, propulsion power and expected sailing time, it is inaccurate to draw direct comparisons between the emissions of older vessels and MV Glen Sannox. "The latter is a much newer vessel which is bigger and more powerful than the former, reflecting increased demand on ferry services." Ferry operator CalMac said passenger and vehicle numbers on the Arran route had increased significantly over the past 30 years. "More power is needed for the size of the vessel that can meet that demand, particularly carrying cars, and it should offer greater resilience against adverse weather," a spokesperson said. "As a first in class vessel, we will learn more and more about MV Glen Sannox and her fuel consumption as we sail her." Would it be better to run the ship on diesel? CalMac's emissions analysis, carried out at the start of the year at the request of Scottish ministers, almost certainly underestimates the ship's carbon footprint. The figures are based on ideal engine running conditions which minimise methane slip - and CalMac acknowledges that in real-life operations, emissions are likely to be higher. The analysis also does not factor in so-called "blowdown" emissions of methane which occur every time the ship switches from LNG to running on MGO. Any methane left in the engine crankcase and fuel lines is automatically flushed into the atmosphere - and CalMac has yet to establish how much will be released. The report also only considers the carbon cost of transporting fuel from the LNG terminal in Kent - no allowance is made for "upstream emissions" involved in extracting the gas in Qatar and transporting it to the UK. CalMac argues this is reasonable as it has no control over where the fuel is sourced. But environmentalists and some academics argue that a fuller "well to wake" comparison of fuels would give a more realistic picture of the climate impacts. "Upstream emissions are really important - especially if you are importing gas from Qatar or the US," said Prof Smith. "The point of whether the upstream should or shouldn't be included is irrelevant – it's rearranging deck chairs on the deck of the Titanic at a point when we should be going to zero emissions."
News Event Monday, December 30, 2024 @ 0700	GLEN SANNOX (2024- Ro-ro ferry 102.4m 336 feet overall of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock, Scotland)	Own Page
'Green' ferry GLEN SANNOX emits more CO2 than old diesel ship CALEDONIAN ISLES ..... PART 3 of 3
Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK)
How can Scotland's ferries become greener? It is possible to run Glen Sannox on biogas, which is produced from organic waste such as manure or by-products from the whisky industry. Since the carbon dioxide released when burning bio-methane originates in the atmosphere rather than underground, it is considered carbon neutral. However, building such a plant in Scotland would require major capital investment and would also involve facilities for supercooling the gas to turn it into a liquid. If a biogas facility were to be developed, one option would be to repurpose the Grangemouth oil refinery where hundreds of jobs are currently under threat. Four more large CalMac ferries under construction in Turkey will have conventional MGO engines with some limited battery power for manoeuvring in harbour. But they have a deeper draught (the amount of hull below the waterline) and lower cargo requirements - meaning a more fuel-efficient hull shape has been possible. CMAL says they have also been designed with the possibility of retrofitting them for potential future fuels such as ammonia. An alternative option would be to consider catamarans, which are far more fuel-efficient than single-hulled ships. The chartered catamaran Alfred, which can carry 98 cars and cost only £14.5m to build, has been operating successfully on the Arran route for the past 20 months. Image source,Christopher Brindle Image caption, Catamarans such as MV Alfred as generally more fuel-efficient than single-hulled ships Its owner describes it as the most environmentally-friendly large ferry in Scotland because of its low fuel consumption. CalMac believes advances in battery technology mean about 90% of its routes could potentially be serviced by all-electric ferries, rising to 100% if fast charging were available. Prof Smith says this is the most climate-friendly option at the present time - although it would require significant upgrades to electricity infrastructure. "Many other countries are putting battery electric vessels into routes similar to those serviced by these vessels," he said. "And that's a solution which if charged with renewable electricity would be zero emissions at the point of operation. "So it's a far more sustainable and viable investment in the long-run, and hopefully we will see more of those in the future."
News Event Sunday, August 1, 1965 @ 1000		Own Page
1965 Advert by William Sloan, Glasgow for their cargo service between Glasgow, Bristol and Belfast
News Event Saturday, December 28, 2024 @ 1800	ISLE OF MULL (1988- Roro ferry 90m long of Caledonian MacBrayne, Gourock)	Own Page
Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF MULL cuts passenger numbers from 900 to 45 after safety failure
Port of Registry Glasgow (Scotland, UK) Gross Tonnage 4,719
From BBC Scotland online news 28 December 2024 CalMac cuts passenger numbers over safety failure Image source,Getty Images Image caption, The MV Isle of Mull is due back on the Lochboisdale to Oban route on 5 January Published 2 hours ago Ferry operator CalMac has been forced to cut passengers numbers on its MV Isle of Mull vessel to just 45 after it failed a safety check. Problems were identified with the ship's evacuation system during its annual overhaul. CalMac has confirmed passenger numbers must be temporarily limited to reflect the spaces available on its lifeboats. However, difficulties in finding replacement parts for the evacuation system mean the restriction could be in place for "several months". The MV Isle of Mull - which can carry about 900 passengers - is due back on the Lochboisdale to Oban route on Sunday 5 January. Glen Sannox begins passenger service on 13 January Published 20 December CalMac warns of service changes to cover ferry repairs Published 1 October A spokesperson for the operator said: "During the routine inspection of the deployed system, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) identified an issue with the embarkation slide, resulting in the slide failing the inspection. "Due to the failure, the starboard side MES system was removed for OEM inspection and, unfortunately, failed with the same issue with the glue used in the slide construction. "The MES is inspected during overhauls and the annual inspection completed the previous year (2023) had not identified this as a potential issue." They added: "Working with the OEM and after an extensive worldwide search, it has become evident that there is no like-for-like replacement available. Obsolescence combined with the design changes in the replacement systems mean that we do not have a compatible evacuation slide to embark passengers onto the life rafts in an emergency. "It is possible that this could take several months to complete. Time will then be required to install and test the system before returning the vessel to a normal Passengers On Board figure." More problems for CalMac's ageing fleet CalMac says passenger bookings on the Lochboisdale route very rarely exceed 45 passengers per sailing at this time of year. At the time the restrictions were brought in, there were no bookings exceeding the 45 passengers per sailing limit. The issues are the latest in a series of technical problems to hit CalMac's ageing ferry fleet. In October, the operator was forced into making temporary changes to some of its services due to ongoing disruption caused by repairs to the MV Caledonian Isles. It had been due to return to its Arran route on 23 September after eight months of maintenance work, but will not now return until March. Projects to build new ferries have also been hit by delays. They include Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa which were originally due for delivery in 2018 but have faced repeated design and construction challenges. It was announced earlier this month that the Glen Sannox will begin timetabled sailings on 13 January. CalMac confirmed the vessel will enter official passenger service on the Arran route after successful tests and crew familiarisation over the past month. Glen Sannox will run on the busiest route on the CalMac network, operating between Troon to Brodick.

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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