Port Dundas / Forth and Clyde canal

This is the Glasgow branch of the Forth and Clyde canal which joined up with the Monkland canal,[now filled in]

Digging for the canal started in 1768 ,it has to be remembered at this time the depth of the River Clyde at Glasgow was a mere 4ft,so the canal that ran through Glasgow a short distance from the city centre was of great importance.

Port Dundas as it is called was built high on a hill so that the chimneys from the factory's and mills would not pollute the city below.

Barges were able to join the canal at Bowling and sail into the heart of Glasgow, a great plus for merchants who previously had to rely on goods coming from Port Glasgow by poor quality roads.

The mills have now been converted into flats ,it still comes as a surprise to people that a canal is only a short walk from the city centre.

STRATHCLYDE Police Launch

The Strathclyde police launch which was a familiar site on the Clyde has been sold .
It was last spotted in Portishead,apparently to be converted to a sight seeing boat.

Werder Bremen

Werder Bremen approaching the tail of the bank on a rather stormy day March 2008.
She is painted in the colours of the football team of the same name,the German company
BELUGA SHIPPING sponsors the team.

On March of 2000 she was involved in a an accident which resulted in the death of 5 seamen. You can read the full report HERE.

Millport

The only town on the Isle of Cumbrae,Millport.
A charming little town which has changed very little over the past hundred years,it can be incredibly busy during the summer months,I took this picture on a cold December day.

M-04 Imanta.

M-04 Dutch minesweeper Imanta,seen on the clyde during a NATO exercise.

Norna / Mina

SFPA Norna and Mina,taken on the 27 Dec 08,both laid up for the holiday period at James Watt Dock.

Greenock Ocean Terminal

Harvest Caroline

Harvest Caroline after leaving James Watt Dock after a winter refit on the 8 Feb 2008
She normally opperates in the North of Scotland.

She was involed in a bit of a drama in Oct 2006,below is the BBC Scotland report.


The Harvest Caroline had to be towed from rocks after foundering off Tanera Mor in the Summer Isles last October.

MAIB investigators said the anchorage position and length of anchor cable for the boat had been "insufficient".

The dragging of the anchor was not detected because the person nominated to be on watch was in bed.

The MAIB report also said the fish farm supply vessel's manager had "very little experience".


To prevent a similar accident in the future, the report said the manager had revised instructions regarding manning of the bridge while the boat is at anchor.

Safety on board has also been reviewed.

The Harvest Caroline dragged its anchors after suffering engine failure.

A Danish warship taking part in a military exercise just outside Stornoway was among the vessels that responded to the Harvest Caroline's pan-pan, or urgency signal.

The vessel was carrying 60 tonnes of fish feed.


You can read the full MAIB report HERE which includes damage photographs.

MV KUNGSHOLM departing New York

A product of the John Brown and Company yard at Clydebank (number 728), the 27,670 gt KUNGSHOLM's keel was laid down in 1964. In April of the following year, she was launched, and in April of 1966, she entered Swedish American Line transatlantic and cruise service.

The fourth SAL ship to carry the name, KUNGSHOLM was named for the Kungsholmen (Kings Isle) sector of Stockholm where the City Hall is located. The twin screw 660 by 87 foot liner was built with two Gotaverken direct drive, slow speed diesels capable of 25,200 BHP for a service speed of 21 knots. On transatlantic voyages, her capacity was divided among 108 in first and 605 in tourist class with 37 interchangeable berths. However, for cruising, she carried a mere 450 passengers in one class. Her crew numbered 450.

Within her strikingly modern yet aestheticlly magnificent hull were many features that raised the bar for luxury, comfort, and safety. The fully air conditioned, stabilized KUNGSHOLM was the first SAL liner with a bulbous forefoot, sported twin five-bladed bronze and nickel screws (the first to utilize this alloy), and push-button controls of all essential safety and navigation equipment, including watertight doors.

Her 62 foot radio mast was telescopic, the top half of which could be hydraulically lowered to allow passage underneath low bridges. Her four tenders had two-way telephone links with the bridge and most of her lifeboats featured motor-powered two-way radio equipment. The ship also had shallow and deep water echo sounders and no less than three separate telegraphs to communicate with the engine room.

Information courtesy of

MARITIME MATTERS

Warrior 111

The Svitzer Tug Warrior 111 on her way up river to Glasgow

USS Boone 28 /USS The Sullivans 68

Three war ships in the Gare Loch preparing for a NATO exercise on the 17 June 2006.


From left to right. A615, Loire (French)
FFG 28 USS Boone
DDG 68 USS The Sullivans

Dunure

The rocky shore of Dunure on the Ayrshire coast.

Dolfijn Dutch Submarine

Seen on the Clyde April 2008 during a NATO exercise, One of the Dutch Walrus class boats.

Arklow Rogue

Arklow Rougue winding her way up the narrow confines of the River Clyde,I filmed this from what was the site of John Browns shipyard ,never fails to amaze me that the Queens all sailed from here.

Svitzer Mallaig / James Watt Dock

Svitzer Mallaig heads for home after completing another job on the Clyde.