Glen Mallon on a Dreich Morning

Another early start to get over to Glen Mallon to get a few photographs of the RFA vessel 'Black Rover' departing to head down to Loch Striven.

The weather on the drive over was horrendous with very heavy rain so my expectations were rather negative.

However as I travelled down the road at loch Long it eased back and down to a drizzle.

Getting good images was challenging but hopefully I have managed a few.

Heading back down the loch road I encountered a contingency of Dutch marines who have been here for about a month carrying out various exercises.

A few photos of them and some of their equipment rounded off my morning before heading home.


Waiting on the Tugs


Coming Off the Jetty


Ready to Depart Glen Mallon



Heading Off

Transiting the Loch

Serco Tugs in Attendance

 Plenty Smoke

 Dutch Marine's Radio Transport

Briefing

Dutch Marine's Truck  

Ready to Get Wet

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Joint Warrior Exercise - Day Two Arrivals

Day two and we have some more arrivals as the minesweepers leave their anchorages and head up to Faslane to berth.

Later we have the Danish frigate 'KDM Peter Willemoes' arrive and make her way up to the KGV docks in Glasgow.

The weather in the morning is atrocious and I struggle to keep the camera dry and get some half decent images.

Thankfully after I travel across to Greenock the weather improves greatly.

HNLMS Makkum

 Getting Wet

 ORP Flaming

 BNS Crocus

 HNLMS Zierikzee

 FGS Datteln

 LNS Jotvingis

 MOD Police RHIB

 EML Sakala

HNOMS Karmoey

 MOD Police Boat 'Lewis

 KDM Peter Willemoes

KDM Peter Willemoes

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Activity Prior to Joint Warrior Exercise

Popped over to the Gareloch as it was rumoured we may see some activity prior to the Joint Warrior military exercise.

The tanker 'Excello' was discharging fuel - in preparation for the warships that would refuel before leaving for the exercise.

Two minesweepers arrived and made their way up the Gareloch to Faslane.

Although dry and very sunny I was just about blown off my feet with the strong wind.

Mission accomplished I headed home knowing I would be returning soon for more arrivals.

 Excello

 Unusual Funnel - Tanker Excello

 Mine-hunters Arrive

 Belgian Ship - Bellis

Bellis

Bound for Faslane

Dutch Minesweeper

 Zierikzee

 Passing Rhu Narrows

Bound for Faslane Naval Base

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - better resolution and options to licence.

Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Hearing that a barge was to go up the River Cart I headed to Renfrew.

My expectations were that the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge would open to allow the barge to transit, but not all went to plan.

Unsure why, but the move was deferred.

I carried on up to Braehead to catch a shot of the Dutch tug that brought the barge to our waters.

I also took a few of the bridge itself. I've crossed this bridge so many times in my car but never stopped to get a few images, so this at least made my trip worthwhile.

Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Inchinnan Bascule Bridge 

Made from Girders 

'Dutch' Pioneer Passing Braehead

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.

A Few Days

This entry covers yesterday and today.

Firstly a few images from yesterday.

Nesting Swan - Greenock

Tower Hill in Gourock 

Maya


Tonight I managed to catch one of the Joint Warrior exercise ships as she departed to sea from Glasgow.

Glorious sunshine - but still cold.

HNLMS Luymes is Dutch and a Hydrographic Survey Vessel.

HNLMS Luymes (A803) - Approaching Port Glasgow  

HNLMS Luymes (A803)

HNLMS Luymes (A803) - Work Boat

 HNLMS Luymes (A803) - Passing Port Glasgow 

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.

Joint Warrior - April 2013 Arrivals

A few more arrivals for the Joint Warrior maritime exercise today.

The Dutch frigate - HNLMS Evertsen - arrived at Faslane for 08:00 so an early start for me.

We also had two Norwegian high speed craft head up to Glasgow and one of them - KNM Gnist - is pictured here.


HNLMS Evertsen (F805)

HNLMS Evertsen (F805)

 Condor - Rhu Spit


HNLMS Evertsen (F805)

 MOD Police RHIB - Rhu Spit


HNLMS Evertsen (F805)

KNM Gnist (P965)

KNM Gnist (P965)

KNM Gnist (P965)

More images are available at - www.dougie-coull-photography.co.uk - and are also better resolution.