Vital Spark/ Arctic Penguin

Berthed at the pier on Loch Fyne ,click HERE to visit the Inveraray Maritime Museum.

Vic 32

Vic 32 on Loch Fyne,dating from 1980s

Vital Spark

Vic 72 was built in 1944 at Hull, and was one of the last VIC class puffers built to have a certificate to carry cargo , she is powered by a Diesel Engine. VIC stands for Victualing Inshore Craft.

The puffers original name was 'Eilean Eisdeal' which was given to her by the Easdale Shipping Company but she was re-named in 2006 as the Vital Spark after the stories written by the writer Neil Munro who wrote about 'Para Handy' skipper of the puffer, the 'Vital Spark'.

The puffer was unique in that they were flat bottomed, and could easily beach at low water unload their cargo and then float off on the next tide, this is one of the reasons why they were so popular particularly in the more remote parts of the West of Scotland.

Vic 32

Vic 32 on her way down the Clyde after spending the night in Glasgow

Vic 32

Vic 32 departing James Watt Dock






Arriving at the Glasgow River Festival 2007






Once a popular sight on the river, there are only a few working puffers left, always a pleasure to watch.

Wee Spark

Wee Spark berthed at Bowling harbour .
The Wee Spark is a puffer built to one third size of the real thing, not normally seen on the Clyde, she spends her time on the Forth and Clyde Canal , but in July 2007 she paid a visit to the Glasgow River Festival.