SEA SHANNON - berth switch

SEA SHANNON - 1,670 grt

She shifted from KGV dock to Shieldhall riverside berths. I think she is in with a load of road salt. OMLU in the background.

BVT Govan in the background.

Almost alongside.

VELSERDIJK had been alongside this berth earlier today. She has since shifted to No.10 berth in KGV dock.

OLMA

OLMA - 3,433 grt

Alongside Shieldhall with a cargo of dry bulk, possibly animal feed. She arrived in this morning, more of her details can be Read Here.

MAPLE

MAPLE - 2,509 grt

Seen here alongside the Shieldhall scrap berth this afternoon. She was last here back in August when she collected a load of scrap metal from the old Lobnitz basin, More info on her can be Read Here.

VELSERDIJK

VELSERDIJK - 2,984 grt

Seen this afternoon as she arrived in at Shieldhall. Nice to see an Apollo ship carrying something other than cement. The deck cargo is wind turbine blades. More of her details can be Read Here.

With ARKLOW VENTURE further up the quayside.

ARKLOW VENTURE

ARKLOW VENUS - 2,829 grt

She was alongside Shieldhall with a load of maize. She has now shifted down to the old Lobnitz basin. More of her details can be Read Here.

Seen here an hour after the previous shot whilst on her way down to Renfrew to take on a load of scrap metal.

Passing an inbound SEA SHANNON.

SEA SHANNON - inbound

SEA SHANNON - 1,670 grt

Arriving in this evening for Shieldhall. I think she is in with some sort of dry bulk. More of her details can be Read Here.

DEFENDER - at Scotstoun

DEFENDER (D36)

She was moved down to the Scotstoun yard yesterday afternoon. Once DAUNTLESS comes out of No.2 dry dock DEFENDER will take her place in No.2 She will spend at least 6 months in that dock before she is shifted to No.3 dry dock.

DAUNTLESS undergoing her final inspection before hand over.

The latest trio of Type 45's are DRAGON (D35) in No.3 dry dock, DAUNTLESS (D33) in No.2 dry dock and the recently launched DEFENDER alongside the Wall.

ARKLOW VENUS - outbound

ARKLOW VENUS - 2,829 grt

Seen heading downriver yesterday afternoon in the heavy rain. She had arrived in at Shieldhall earlier in the week with a cargo of dry bulk. Once she had discharged her cargo she shifted over to Diesel Wharf to take on a load of scrap metal. As you can see DEFENDER (D36) is now down at Scotstoun.

With DAUNTLESS (D33) in No.3 dry dock undergoing a final inspection before she departs the yard before the year end.

DRAGON in No.3 dry dock now with her spinning top fitted.

DEFENDER - post launch

A final run of stills and video from the launch of DEFENDER (D36). The video above is of the tugs getting ready to swing the Type 45 into the basin. As they were busy at work WAVERLEY was heading away from Meadowside for the short run upto Plantation quay. This was her final run of the 2009 season and as she departed she gave off a fairwell salute to the yard and its workers. The stills below are of the old girl heading back upriver.

HMS SMITER (P272) mid channel as WAVERLEY heads away from Meadowside.


The dark coloured RIB is the Police and the orange RIB is Fire and Rescue. The small boat was COURIER and was being used by the yard to clean up their mess.

With the WAVERLEY finishing up for the day all that was left to do was move DEFENDER into the basin. The video below is of the tugs working the newbuild into the basin. The stills are of the yard boats cleaning up the launch debris.

BATUG 12. Being used by the yard to scoop up any mess.

COURIER.

It played it's part.

COBH. On hire from Offshore Workboats.

Meadowside 2009. This land was once home to Partick Thistle Football Club.

An attempted wide view of this part of the river.

Looking down one of the ramps at the old Merklands Lairage. These ramps were used to unload cattle from ships belonging to the Burns and Laird Line. The Merklands Wharf also handled imported fruit. To see how this area once looked Click Here.

The final shot from launch day and Clyde Marine's new tug CMS BUSTER heads back downriver after helping the Clyde's latest newbuild safely alongside the yard basin.

Well done to all involved in the safe launch.

DEFENDER - launch video

The launch of the penultimate Type 45, DEFENDER (D36), at the Govan shipyard of BVT. Another proud day on Clydeside. WAVERLEY can be heard blasting away and also the best sound of the day, the drag chains kicking in. Well done to all involved in her construction so far. She'll head down to Scotstoun in the next couple of days. There she will spend at least two years being oufitted and kitted out with her important bits.

DEFENDER - launch day

DEFENDER - D36

A run of shots of her entering the water at 15:20 this afternoon. I'm pushed for time so it's pics only for now. Enjoy.

More later.......