Our nations maritime heritage.

PADDLE STEAMER WAVERLEY - Last going sea Paddle Steamer in the World, built 1946.

MOTOR VESSEL BALMORAL - Built 1949.

PADDLE STEAMER MAID OF THE LOCH - Last paddle steamer built in Britain, built 1953.

CITY OF ADELAIDE - Oldest surviving clipper ship, built 1864.

THE SECOND SNARK - Built 1938.



And much more.

Cailin Oir on the Kilcreggan run. 05/05/12.

The usual ferry on this run now, Island Princess was unfortunately experiencing engine problems after a creel line was caught in a prop. Buses were running from Gourock to Kilcreggan, however the expected journey time was 90 minutes! So Clydelink put their back up vessel, the Cailin Oir into service. Problem is she has not been properly certified so can only carry 12 passengers. She is seen here in service on Saturday 5th May 2012, carrying a handful of passengers each time.

Island Princess was back in service by Wednesday 9th May, her engine having to be completely rebuilt at Silvers Marine's yard in Rosneath.

Waverley arriving into Glasgow. 3/5/12.

Following annual overhaul with fleet mate Balmoral in Greenock, Paddle Steamer Waverley is seen arriving back into her home berth at Plantation Quay by the Glasgow Science Centre at 1500. Balmoral is due to follow her on Friday.

A big thanks also to the kind crew on board Waverley, who allowed me and a group of people a quick look at the engines.

Dunoon and Greenock. 28/4/12.

Some shots of Ali Cat and Argyll Flyer working their duties between Gourock and Dunoon and also of Waverley and Balmoral in dry dock. They were moved from dry dock on Monday 30th April and Waverley is due to move down river to Plantation Quay on Thursday, followed by Balmoral on Friday.

Greenock and Rosneath, 21/4/12.

Once again it was to Greenock where in dry dock we see Waverley (1947) and Balmoral (1949) which were dry docked together on Wednesday 18th April. Finlaggan (2011) is also seen, but in the wet dock where she was moved to on Monday 16th April, following 10 days in dry dock.

Then it was to Rosneath, to see Saturn (1977), the last of the Clyde streakers. She's been laid up here since August 2011 and her sisters Jupiter (1973) and Juno (1974) have been scrapped. Is it only a matter of time before Saturn meets her fate, I certainly hope not, but time will tell.

A long day out! 14/4/12

First on this fine Saturday, it was to Renfrew, where we saw the Cailin Oir, the back up vessel for Clydelink's service from Gourock-Kilcreggan which is currently being handled by Island Princess. Then it was to Greenock where we saw Balmoral (1949) which had arrived on Thursday 12th April on the Clyde for the first time since October 2008. She and Calmac's Finlaggan (2011) are undergoing overhaul at Garvel's dock in JWD. Then to the McLean museum, then to Gourock and finally to the Glasgow Science Centre to see Paddle Steamer Waverley (1947) which is currently preparing to be dry docked in Greenock the following week.

Finlaggan on the Clyde. 11/4/12

A look at Calmac's newest addition to their fleet, Finlaggan, built in 2011 for the Islay service in Gdansk, Poland. She arrived on the Clyde for the first time the previous day and is seen here in Greenock's James Watt Dock getting her annual survey. She moved at around 1430 to the dry dock where work began almost immediately on stripping the paint etc.