ORMESBY CROSS & BVT barge

A frosty and misty day in Glasgow as the tug ORMESBY CROSS and the BVT barge arrive upriver for BVT Govan. The barge is carrying the BVT Portsmouth constructed bow and mast section for the final Type 45, DUNCAN - D37. These sections will be stored in the yard until after the launch of D36 - DEFENDER late next year.

A chilly St Andrews day.

A slight break in the fog that has prevented two cargo ships berthing upriver. SEA HAWK is anchored off Greenock, due in at Princes dock with steelwork for the new Tradeston footbridge and HEROI STAKHORSKYI is also anchored off Greenock, she is due in for Shieldhall with a load of animal feed. If the weather forecasts are correct then they should be able to make their way upriver tomorrow.

The BVT facilities in Glasgow and Portsmouth working together.

A couple of closer views of the bow section, the mast and the radar housing plus other bits.

Now in the Govan basin. Over the next week or two the barge will be lined up with the ro-ro berth at the yard and the bow section will be wheeled off.

MARIDA MAGNOLIA

MARIDA MAGNOLIA - 8,505 grt

Seen this afternoon as she arrived in for Rothesay dock. Clyde Marine's BATTLER and Svitzer's WARRIOR III in attendance. More info on MARIDA MAGNOLIA can be Read Here.

Having entered the dock she was taken straight onto the tanker berth. It's not often that these tankers are berthed facing upriver.

Making for a nice change. I've no idea why she berthed this way, possibly tide related.

With the tanker made fast WARRIOR III heads back to Greenock. BATTLER hanging around until all the ropes were secure. The Sleeping Giant can be seen beyond the Erskine bridge.

CIMBRIS

CIMBRIS - 3,173 grt

Seen this morning as she arrived in at Shieldhall with a cargo of wind turbine blades. She had canted at the mouth of KGV and was backing up towards Adam's scrap berth. Once GYN YOH had departed she moved up to the Clydeport berths. More of her details can be Read Here.

SVITZER MALLAIG waits on CIMBRIS berthing so she can assist GYN YOH downriver, AYTON CROSS was also in attendance. I was unable to wait for the bulker to depart.

The wind turbine blades can be seen on her deck.

Alongside the scrap berth and waiting on GYN YOH to sail so she can move further down the quayside. The bulker was to depart minutes later.

ARKLOW ROGUE

ARKLOW ROGUE - 2,999 grt

Seen yesterday morning as she arrived in to collect a load of scrap metal from Lobnitz basin. Clyde Marine's BITER was on hand to assist her berthing. More of info on ARKLOW ROGUE can be Read Here.

BITER moving in to assist.

NORDPORT

NORDPORT - 8,542 grt

She was in at the Rothesay dock tanker berth yesterday. There is another tanker due in today. The top view is late afternoon and the bottom view is late morning. More of her details can be Read Here.

HOLSTENTOR

HOLSTENTOR 2,351 grt

Seen yesterday afternoon as she headed out. She was up at Diesel wharf for a load of scrap metal. GYN YOH and KRUCKAU can be seen up at Shieldhall. For more info on HOLSTENTOR Read Here.

GYN YOH & KRUCKAU

GYN YOH is due to sail at 11:00 today. This was the view of her yesterday as she sat alongside Shieldhall. Also in at Shieldhall yesterday was KRUCKAU, seen up the scrap berth.

DEFENDER - D36.

The first module of the next Type 45 to be assembled at Govan has been moved onto the slipway. The Portsmouth constructed bow section for DEFENDER has been at the yard since July. Over to the right the east wall of the basin is having some work done to it. Possibly prep work for the carrier modules that are due to be constructed by the yard.

A closer look at the bow section. Coverage will continue, over the next 12 months, as she takes shape on the slipway.

SHETLAND TRADER

SHETLAND TRADER - 1,515 grt

Seen yesterday making her way up to Princes dock in Govan with a cargo of steelwork for the new Tradeston footbridge. The steelwork was prefabricated up in Invergordon by RBG. Part of the old Queens dock enterance can be seen to the right. Queens dock was filled in back in the early 80's and is now home to the Scottish Exhibition & Confrence Centre (SECC). Also, the new Pointhose quayside looking new.
For more details on SHETLAND TRADER Read Here.

The new Riverside museum taking shape in the background. Further downriver are the new flats at Meadowside.

Lining up at the enterance to Princes dock with WAVERLEY tied up alongside Plantation quay. Princes dock was partially infilled and the land used during the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival. One of the old Govan dry dock enterances can be seen in the background.

Almost in the dock and about to cant/swing.

The wasteland that is Govan dry docks in the background. A hidden gem lying in ruin. A shame on the city.

The Glasgow Tower in the sun.

Lined up and now slowly moving towards her berth.

Govan town hall in the background. SHETLAND TRADER was to berth alongside the south wall. Thanks to Robert the bridge man for the info, much appreciated.

St Mungo views

A couple of shots from yesterday of St Mungo at work. In the shot above she is at the Yoker waterfront with GYN YOH up alongside Shieldhall. The shot below is from later in the day as she headed up towards the city centre. Govan dry docks and the gable end of a tenement in the background.

GYN YOH

GYN YOH - 34,168 grt


Seen this morning as she made her way up to Shieldhall with a part cargo of animal feed. SVITZER MALLAIG up front and AYTON CROSS on the stern. She was built as a woodchip carrier. More info on GYN YOH can be Read Here.



The passenger ferry YOKER SWAN, BITER heading upriver and WARRIOR III awaiting the arrival of the bulker at Shieldhall.


Alongside Shieldhall riverside.

EILSUM (updated)

EILSUM - 1,662 grt

Seen this afternoon as she headed up to BVT Govan. I'd imagine she is delivering components for the next Type 45, DEFENDER D36. More of her details can be Read Here. The large building in the background is the Xscape indoor ski slope.

Passing the mouth of KGV dock with HMS ENTERPRISE still here.

Passing the shieldhall scrap berth with ANTJE K alongside, she departed within an hour of this shot.

Arriving and lining up at the mouth of the Govan wet basin. By this time the sun had set and as you can see the light was fading.

Alongside the west wall of the Govan basin. This was the scene on the 26th (tuesday). SHETLAND TRADER heading up to Princes dock. EILSUM was to sail within a few hours of this shot.

DRAGON moving to Scotstoun

Fresh from her big day on Monday. DRAGON was brought down to Scotstoun today. Aided by four Clyde Marine tugs and SVITZER MALLAIG. This was the scene as she was moved down from Govan to Scotstoun. At this point having just rounded the bend at Whiteinch.

Passing Shieldhall riverside with BRUISER up front and BITER running alongside.

Looking bare as she passes me.

SVITZER MALLAIG on the stern as they pass Braehead.

BEAVER BAY making an appearance as DRAGON nears No.2 dry dock.

DRAGON - dry docking

Now at Scotstoun's No.2 dry dock and being lined up by the tugs. At this point the weather took a turn for the worse. The remaining images are poorly lit, a true reflection of today's weather. Rotten!

A tight, but gentle, persuasion.

The lead Type 45 DARING alongside the Wall. The dock gate can be seen made fast to BATTLER. BITER with SVITZER MALLAIG on port side duties and BRUISER still up front.

The dry docks at BVT Scotstoun.

left - right,

DIAMOND (D34) in No.3 dry dock. DRAGON (D35) being moved into No.2 dry dock and DARING (D32) up at the old Elderslie Wall. The shed with the big yellow door is the covered No.1 dry dock. This dry dock is too narrow for the Type 45's to fit in. Incase you were wondering, DAUNTLESS (D34) is away on her first sea trial.

She's almost there as I call it a day. Too wet and dull. She'll remain in No.2 dry dock for a good few months. Once DIAMOND nears her first sea trial they will swap dry docks. No.3 dry dock being the main finishing dock (to sea trial standard) for the type 45 programme.