Western Ferries

Sound of Shuna in James Watt Dock







The Western ferries sail between Between Hunter's Quay Dunoon and
McInroy's Point Gourock.

St Just

St Just is a familiar site on the Clyde during the summer months.

She made headline news in 1986 when she was engaged in a drug run to Nigeria-West Africa, from Oban, during which 1 ton of cannabis was brought back. The voyage lasted approx 9 months and came to an abrupt end.

Puiladobhrain (pulldorran) anchorage, Isle of Seil. The Customs cutter Seeker had been following the St Just from Land’s End and, ironically they boarded just as the crew were toasting the apparent success of their trip.

At the time it was the biggest drugs haul the UK had ever seen and was front page news, although by today’s standards the quantity is relatively insignificant.

The St Just was impounded by HM Customs and Excise and taken to the Railway Pier at Oban, then moved to the Great Harbour, Greenock where she was disposed of by auction on completion on the trial.

MV Bute

MV Bute the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay ferry,photographs of her entering drydock can be found HERE

The crew of the MV Bute have started their own website which you can find HERE

Victoria

Luhnau

Passing Greenock in a heavy summer downpour of rain.

HMS Cattistock

HMS Cattistock (M31), the third ship of this name, is a Hunt-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1981 and commissioned on 5 March 1982, the third ship of her class.

She was mentioned in the media in December 2002 after coliding with a jetty as she was leaving her homeport of HMNB Portsmouth in late November. She was left with a 2ft hole in in her side, although no crew were hurt in the collision.

Loch Long

Loch Long from Arrochar.

HMS Plymouth

HMS Plymouth was built at Devonport Dockyard, in her namesake city of Plymouth, and was launched by Viscountess Astor on 20 July 1959

She had an interesting career but is probably best remembered for the part she played during the Falklands war in 1982,she was attacked and badly damaged by the Argentine air force.

After her decommissioning in 1988 she was brought to the Clyde,sadly things never worked out for her and she has been to a few ports in search of a permanent home,her preservation is still in the balance.

I took these picture in 1982,and still recall viewing the scars she obtained during the Falkland war.

HMS Walney

At the tail of the bank on a survey exercise.

She is the fourth of the Sandown class of minehunters and the second ship to carry the name.

She was launched by Lady Wilson, wife of Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB on 25 November 1991 and commissioned into Naval service on 19 August 1992. The name Walney comes form the island off Barrow-in-Furness on the North West coast of England.

The island was called Maghney by the Saxons, signifying 'a wall in the sea'; hence the yellow wall in the ships crest. The red rose in the crest indicated Walney's location in what used to be Lancashire. She has battle honours from the Atlantic in 1941-42 and Africa in 1942