ISIDOR & AASLI

A few views from today of the two coasters berthed alongside Shieldhall riverside. More details below. Just for the record it has been a quiet week upriver. Not much happening until the new year.

AASLI - 3,968 grt

ISIDOR - 2,735 grt

Clydebank Titan at night

Seeing as it is a busy time of year and the river has been quiet these last few days I thought I'd post these shots of the Titan crane at Clydebank. They were taken last week. The crane is situated on the site of the old John Brown shipyard. Birthplace of the likes of the QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH and the QUEEN ELIABETH 2 to name but a few. Sadly the site today is a joke. The new Clydebank colllege was built on the old east yard and the west yard (behind the Titan) is empty. There are plans to build houses on the west side of the site. The old fitting out basin that sits between the lens and the crane is badly silted up. For an area that was once one of the greatest marine centres in the world it is a joke that this basin has been neglected. A perfect basin for visiting ships. Sadly, Clydebank is no different from Glasgow, Renfrew, Dalmuir, Bowling, Port Glasgow and Greenock. Clydeside communities with amazingly strong maritime heritage yet the powers that be seem to care more for retail parks, real estate and speed bumps.
Anyway, here is Clydebank's attempt at celebrating their maritime heritage. Credit for restoring the Arroll Titan but shame on them for letting the basin silt up, oh and they should build some sort of maritime or engineering musuem at the foot of the Titan. For a view of the Titan and basin from 1910 Click Here.

Merry Christmas to all

Merry Christmas to all. Also many thanks for all the kind comments and return visitors. All very much appreciated. Enjoy your day folks.

Barry

In memory of FLYING PHANTOM

It was a year ago tonight she went down off Clydebank whilst assisting the bulker RED JASMINE up to Shieldhall. Sadly three of her four crew were lost as she went over.

The men were boat skipper Stephen Humphreys, 33, engineer Robert Cameron, 65, and crew member Eric Blackley, 57.

RIP peace lads, gone but never to be forgotten!

For those who are unaware of this story, the BBC report on the tragic event can be Read Here. The two pics posted are off her assisting the bulker/wood chip carrier BUENA VISTA away from Shieldhall back in august 2007. A beautiful Clydebuilt tug that was always a joy to watch at work.

DEFENDER bow & bridge

Both sections now moved together and ready for welding. Please excuse the copyright logo at the bottom right. It will be on all Type 45 photos from now on.

SESAM

SESAM - 1,500 grt

Seen here passing the Blythswood light as she made her way upriver this afternoon. She is in to collect a load of scrap metal from Lobnitz basin. Clyde Marine's BITER was waiting to assist. Some more info on SESAM can be Read Here.



BITER moving in to assist.

Berthed.

BITER and the Big Wheel

Clyde Marine's tug BITER on her way up to KGV dock after assisting SESAM into Lobnitz basin. I think she is up to assist HMS MERSEY downriver. In the background is the recently erected Braehead Big Wheel.

DAUNTLESS arriving back in

DAUNTLESS - D33

Seen this morning as she arrived back at BVT Scotstoun. She had been out and about the west coast on her first set of sea trials. Clyde Marine's BRUISER (bow) and BATTLER (stern) were in attendance.

Passing No.3 dry dock. This is the main fitting out dock and as you can see DIAMOND - D34 will be next Type 45 to reach sea trial stage.

Passing the other two Type 45's at Scotstoun. The recently launched DRAGON - D35 sitting high and dry in No.2 dry dock and the recently crowned HMS DARING alongside the Wall.

The view as she prepares to swing at the mouth of KGV dock.

BRUISER looking as mighty as ever.

BATTLER on stern duty.

With the destroyer swung the trio headed back down to Scotstoun.

The view looking back upriver as DAUNTLESS arrives back at the yard.

DAUNTLESS being lined up to berth alongside HMS DARING. The aforementioned coasters berthed up at Shieldhall riverside.

A final look upriver with HMS MERSEY inbound.

HMS MERSEY

HMS MERSEY - P283

She arrived in this morning, about 30 minutes behind DAUNTLESS. She is one of three River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel's operated by the Royal Navy. I'm not sure why she is in, possibley for stores. More of her details can be Read Here.

Passing the scene at Scotstoun as DAUNTLESS arrives back in. Clyde Marine's BITER can be seen waiting up at the entrance to KGV dock. I'm not 100% sure if HMS MERSEY berthed at KGV dock and what she is in for.

YOKER SWAN

The passenger ferry YOKER SWAN crossing from north to south. HMS MERSEY heads up for a visit to KGV dock with DAUNTLESS berthing alongside HMS DARING at the BVT Scotstoun yard. Clyde Marine's BRUISER and BATTLER assisting the destroyer.

CROWNBREEZE

CROWNBREEZE - 2,548 grt

Seen this morning as she was being unloaded at Shieldhall. I'm not sure what she is in with, possibley salt. More of her details can be Read Here.

SUDERAU

SUDERAU - 2,461 grt

Seen this morning as she sat alongside the scrap berth at Shieldhall. She departed early this afternoon, more of her details can be Read Here.

HARTZI - outbound

Following on from the previous post, here she is heading out this morning. Passing the Clydebank Titan with SVITZER MALLAIG in attendance.

Rounding the bend at Dalmuir.

HARTZI

HARTZI - 10,921 grt

Seen today as she sat alongside the tanker berth at Rothesay dock. She arrived in last night and is still at Clydebank tonight. She's most likely to sail tomorrow morning as STEN EMBLA is anchored off Arran waiting to come up. More details on HARTZI can be Read Here.

Earlier in the day.

NEWARK

NEWARK

Clydeport's survey boat NEWARK seen today off Clydebank. She has spent the last couple of days surveying Rothesay dock and the riverbed around the entrance to the dock.

ELISE

ELISE - 1,917 grt

Seen this morning as she headed up past Renfrew inbound for Shieldhall. I'm not sure if she is in to load or unload. More of her details can be Read Here.

BVT Govan at night

A trio of Type 45 sections.

The bow section and bridge section of DEFENDER - D36 on the slipway with the bow section of DUNCAN - D37 now moved from the barge to the yard.

DEFENDER - D36 now beginning to take shape.

A closer look at the bridge secion.

Type 45 sections

A look over to BVT Govan in daylight. The bow section for DUNCAN - D37 (the final type45) has been moved from the barge onto the the yard and as you can see the bridge section for DEFENDER - D36 has been moved out onto the slips.

SCOT VENTURE

SCOT VENTURE - 2,594 grt

Seen yesterday afternoon as she headed out. She had been alongside Shieldhall with a load of plywood. ARKLOW RALLY can be seen up at Shieldhall, she was in with another load of salt. Also seen are Clydeport's survey boat NEWARK (over to the right) and what looks like Clyde Marine's BITER heading upriver with a barge. Over to the left is the new big wheel at Braehead. More details on SCOT VENTURE can be Read Here.

HEROI STAKHORSKYI

HEROI STAKHORSKYI - 5,197 grt

Yesterday morning and a look over Diesel wharf towards Shieldhall riverside. HEROI STAKHORSKYI alongside with a load of animal feed. She arrived in on monday and she sailed yesterday. The old Barclay Curle engine works to the right. More info on the HEROI STAKHORSKYI can be Read Here.

Winter view

Yesterday morning and a look downriver. BVT Scotstoun and a trio of Type 45's at different stages of outfitting. DARING - DRAGON - DIAMOND with NORDPORT down at Rothesay dock. An Easy Jet inbound for Glasgow airport (GLA).