MARIDA MAPLE

Departing Loch Long after a visit to Finnart.

Sospan Dau

Dredgers working in Glasgow dump their spoil at the mouth of the Holy Loch.

click HERE for some pictures of her filling in the Kingston Basin a few years ago.

HNLMS Zeeleeuw

Dutch submarine heading for Coulport in Loch Long.

Encounter

Departing Greenock container terminal and heading off down the Clyde.

HMS ASTUTE

HMS Astute on the degaussing range at Loch Long on the Clyde.

For more pictures click HERE

HMS Astute is the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered submarines. Astute was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down on 31 January 2001, 100 years to the day since the keel was laid down for Holland 1, the first Royal Navy submarine. The vessel was built at BAE's submarine facility in Barrow-in-Furness and was launched on 8 June 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

The 7,400-tonne Astute’s nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25 year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 crew. Astute will carry Tomahawk cruise missiles.

HMS Montrose (F236)

The second and current HMS Montrose (F236) is the eighth of a sixteen ship class of frigates, known as Type 23 or the Duke class, of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde. She was launched by Mrs M L Rifkind, wife of the then Secretary of State for Defence Sir Malcolm Rifkind on 31 July 1992 and commissioned in June 1994 at Devonport Dockyard.

St Albans

HMS St Albans (F83) is a Type 23 Frigate of the Royal Navy ,she is the sixth ship to bear the name and is the sixteenth and final ship in the Duke class of frigates.

The ship was launched on the River Clyde on Saturday 6 May 2000. She was built at BAE Systems Yarrows Yard in Scotstoun, Glasgow.

On the 27 October 2002, before she had even entered operational service, HMS St Albans was struck by the P&O ferry Pride of Portsmouth when gale force winds pushed the ferry into the ship whilst secure on her berth in Portsmouth. HMS St Albans suffered damage to the gun deck; the sea boat supports (davits) and the bridge wing. However, no members of the crew were injured.