RMS Lancastria

Bombed and sunk on the 17 June 1940

built by Wm Beardmore & Company Dalmuir,
Yard No 557

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Last Name: LANCASTRIA (1924)
Port of Registry: Liverpool
Propulsion: Steam turbine, 2527 nhp, 16.5 knots
Launched: Monday, 31/05/1920
Built: 1922
Ship Type: Passenger Vessel
Tonnage: 16243 grt
Length: 552.8 feet
Breadth: 70.4 feet
Draught: 38.8 feet
Owner History:
Anchor Line Glasgow
Cunard Steam-Ship Company, Liverpool
1934 Cunard-White Star Ltd., Liverpool
Status: Bombed & Sunk - 17/06/1940

Similar in design to other Cunarders and Anchor liners of the day. She earned the name "Soup Tureen" and generally not much else of a name for herself initially. In 1924 she was refitted for Cabin Class and her name was changed to LANCASTRIA as Americans were reputed to have difficulty in pronouncing TYRRHENIA. In the thirties it was decided she was more fitted to cruising. Became RMT LANCASTRIA in 1940. On above date of sinking she had been evacuating an unknown number of refugees and military personel from Nazaire during Operation Aerial. As many as 9000 people could have been aboard when German planes bombed her, with one bomb going straight down the funnel and sealing her fate. Estimates of up to 5000 people lost. The disaster was hushed on the orders of Churchill and despite being the biggest maritime disaster in the UK's history, received little prominence in the press when it eventually filtered through.

Information courtesey of CLYDEBUILT SHIP DATA BASE

Stavros S Niarchos

Docked at at Greenock is theThe Stavros S Niarchos a British brig-rigged tall ship owned and operated by the Tall Ships Youth Trust. She is primarily designed to provide young people with the opportunity to undertake voyages as character-building exercises, rather than pure sail-training. She is also used for adult voyages and holidays, which help subsidise the operation of the ship.

Click HERE for the official website

Rona

Rona an Irish mussel dredger from Sligo Ireland prepares to enter drydock.

More information on her can be found HERE

Caledonia and QE2

Caledonia at Rothesay Dock,in the background is the QE2 which has just been launched,the folk on Caledonia must have had a splendid view.

Curzola

Sailing down the Clyde empty after discharging her cargo at Rothesay Dock.

Pomantik

Pomantik making her way to Finnart on Loch Long,she had problems with the yachts which were making their back to the marina in Loch long after a days racing,a slight diversion was required to to allow the yachts safe passage.

Portencross Castle

Portencross castle lies a few miles from the village of West Kilbride,it stands on a rocky shore with a small bay at the entrance to the castle.

The area surrounding the the castle is very scenic with fine views across to the Little Cumbrae Island and the Isle of Arran in the distance.

Portencross was the seat of the Barony of Arnele conferred by Robert 1 on Sir Robert Boyd of Kilmarnock.

Robert the 11 and the 111 were frequent visitors at the castle while they were in transit to their favourite residences of Dundonald on the mainland and Rothesay Castle on the Island of Bute.

Some observers believe that the castle was built for this purpose,it remained a Boyd property until 1737 when the roof blew off,it has been an empty shell since.

It is hoped that the castle will be made safe and open to the public in 2010.

Friends of Portencross Castle can be found HERE