DEFENDER - D36 - final line up

Now starting to look the part now that all her blocks are in their final positions.The scaffolders can be seen erecting another seam cover for the welders. There is also some extra steelwork been added around the hanger entrance. The last major piece to be put in place will be the mast section. Pics will follow in due course.

A closer look at the final block line up.

BONDENAU

BONDENAU - 2,452 grt

Seen yesterday afternoon as she took on a load of scrap metal at the Shieldhall scrap berth. She sailed shortly after this photo was taken. More details on BONDENAU can be Read Here.

Whilst I'm on, it was a year ago tonight that I started this photo blog of the Upper Clyde. I'd just like to say a big thank you to all who have dropped in. Also thank you for the kind comments and words of encouragement. All very much appreciated. I hope you all enjoy the second year.

Barry Watson

St Mungo, DEFENDER & DANIEL K.

A few shot from earlier today.

St Mungo passing DEFENDER whilst heading back down to KGV dock. Not much change with DEFENDER at Govan except the addition of the Long Range Radar mast housing.

A closer look at the addtional steelwork.

DANIEL K. can be seen down at the Shieldhall scrap berth.

DORIS T - outbound

DORIS T - 1,973 grt

Seen this evening as she headed out from KGV dock. She had arrived in at Shieldhall on monday night with a load of dolomite. Once she had discharged her cargo she shifted round to KGV dock to make way for the arrival of SPIRIT OF BRAZIL.
She is seen here on the other side of Newshot Isle with ARKLOW FAME down at Lobnitz basin. More details on DORIS T can be Read Here.



The Clydebank Titan in the background.

This side of Newshot Isle.

ARKLOW FAME

ARKLOW FAME - 2,998 grt

Seen this afternoon as she took on a load of scrap metal whilst alongside the Lobnitz basin. She spent the early part of yesterday anchored off Gourock waiting for INGUNN to clear the basin. She began to head upto Renfrew before INGUNN had departed, they passed each other off Erskine. More details on ARKLOW FAME can be Read Here.

Little and Large

A view from this afternoon as the ferry YOKER SWAN heads over to Glasgow from Renfrew whilst the bulker SPIRIT OF BRAZIL continues to be unloaded up at Shieldhall.

TÄRNVÅG

TÄRNVÅG - 9,993 grt

Another look at TÄRNVÅG but this time in better light. She departed this evening.

SPIRIT OF BRAZIL

SPIRIT OF BRAZIL - 36,591 grt

Seen here yesterday arriving in for Shieldhallwith a load of animal feed. As you can see she's quite big. She was assisted upriver by a trio of Svitzer tugs. AYTON CROSS on the bow, SVITZER MILFORD on the stern and WARRIOR III, she went upriver ahead of the others. These big bulkers can now only be brought upto Glasgow in daylight.

More info on SPIRIT OF BRAZIL can be Read here.

SVITZER MILFORD has taken the place of SVITZER MALLAIG. Both tugs have swapped locations. SVITZER MALLAIG is away to Milford Haven in Wales with SVITZER MILFORD now working on the Clyde.

Clyde Marine's BRUISER following the trio. She was heading up to assist the tanker FALCON from Rothesay dock.

A couple of views from today whilst she was been unloaded at Shieldhall. Above is from Whiteinch on the northbank and below is from Govan on the southbank.

INGUNN

INGUNN - 2,999 grt

She arrived upriver yesterday morning. The shot above is from yesterday as she took on a load of scrap metal whilst alongside the Lobnitz basin. As you'll see from the shots below she headed out this evening, as TARNVAG headed in for Rothesay dock. More info on INGUNN can be Read Here.

A few shots from this evening as she headed downriver in poor light.

An inbound TARNVAG can be seen on the other side of Newshot Isle.

Light fading fast as INGUNN passes TARNVAG at Dalmuir.

TÄRNVÅG - inbound

TÄRNVÅG - 9,993 grt

Seen this evening arriving in for Rothesay dock. Last seen here in February 2008, she was assisted upriver this evening by BRUISER (bow) and WARRIOR III (stern). The outbound INGUNN can be seen across Newshot Isle. Please excuse the poor light.

More info on TÄRNVÅG can be Read Here.

ANTJE K and DORIS T

The scene on tuesday afternoon before the arrival of SPIRIT OF BRAZIL at Shieldhall. ANTJE K was in for a load of scrap metal and DORIS T was in with a load of dolomite. DORIS T has shifted to No.3 berth in KGV dock.

More info on ANTJE K can be Read Here.

More info on DORIS T can be Read Here.

Trinidad and Tobago block movement

The scene this afternoon as Clyde Marine's BRUISER and BITER move the BVT barge alongside the Scotstoun Ro-Ro berth. There was three hull blocks and some other steelwork onboard the barge. I'm not sure if the bow sections will be built at Scotstoun or Govan. With the way both yards are set up these days there is every chance the bow section and other steelwork will also be fabricated at Govan then brought down by barge to join the other blocks on the Scotstoun slipway.

Another upside of the extra work for Govan and Scotstoun is there is a good chance No.1 dry dock (big yellow door) will be used again. With the dock being too narrow for a Type 45 it has lain idle since the Brunei OPV's were fitted out. The Trinidad and Tobago OPV's will be roughly the same size as the Brunei ships plus the other two dry docks will still be busy with the Type 45 oufitting. So hopefully the old dry dock will be used at the same time as the other two dry docks are busy fitting out DEFENDER and DUNCAN. I'm sure it has been a very long time since all three dry docks have been used at the same time.

The cranes at Shieldhall riverside in the background.

Great news for Govan & Scotstoun

BVT Govan today.

Good news for the Upper Clyde as BVT switch production of two out of the three Trinidad and Tobago OPV's from BVT Portsmouth to Glasgow. These ship were part of a three ship export deal that VT Shipbuilding in Portsmouth had won before the tie up with BAE Systems yards on the Clyde. More info on this swap can be Read Here. Although there has been no official statement from BVT this steelwork looks like a hull section for one of the T&T ships being loaded onto the BVT barge for the short trip down to Scotstoun. I'm assuming most of the steelwork will be carried out at Govan with full assembly, the launch and outfitting being carried out at the Scotstoun. I know that Scotstoun has been working on some of this order for months but now it is confirmed they are doing more than some steelwork for Portsmouth.
So it looks as if HMS DARING won't be the last ship to be launched at Yarrow's. Brilliant news for this area. As it stands BVT Portsmouth are having major issues with the first T&T ship and with them having three OPV's on order for Oman there may yet be more work heading from Portsmouth to the Clyde.

DEFENDER- D36 final block

The final block for DEFENDER was moved out onto the slipway earlier this week. The view above was from today as the block was being moved into it's final position. The views below were from tuesday night before the block was moved down the slipway.

More night shots.

A couple of closer looks at the final block.

WORLD TRADER

WORLD TRADER - 35,345 grt

Seen on tuesday as she unloaded a cargo of animal feed at Shieldhall. She arrived in on monday morning and during her cant at the mouth of KGV dock she struck the quayside. She is having welding work done to some of the plates that were damaged. With another big bulker due in on saturday there is a good chance she will depart on friday, assuming the repair work is passed. More details of WORLD TRADER can be Read Here.

A wide view of the big bulker at Shieldhall and KGV regular DEO VOLENTE in at her usual berth (no.10) at KGV.

A view from this afternoon looking up towards Shieldhall.

Clyde Marine tugs

A trio of Clyde Marine tugs heading up to BVT Govan on tuesday. I think they were moving the BVT barge from Govan down to Scotstoun. From the left BATTLER - BITER - BEAVER BAY.

Passing Renfrew Green with the SPT's YOKER SWAN and RENFREW ROSE over at Renfrew.

GALWAY FISHER

GALWAY FISHER - 3,368 grt

Seen on tuesday night as she arrived in at the Rothesay dock fuel berth. She departed yesterday morning. More of her details can be Read Here.

MARIDA MIMOSA

MARIDA MIMOSA - 8,505 grt

Seen this afternoon as she sits alongside the Rothesay dock fuel terminal. She arrived in during yesterdays heavy snow and by looks of it she'll sail with the outgoing tide this evening. More of her details can be Read Here.

DAUNTLESS in the background.