Showing posts with label French. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French. Show all posts

Sunday, 15 November 2015

Wet Saturday Night and Sunday Morning


The dismal rainy weather continues and tonight seems worse than ever.

The plan is to get some images as Hawick Court in Greenock is demolished in the early hours of Sunday.

To keep active before then a trip across to Clydebank to see the Titan Crane - illuminated in the colours of the French flag to pay tribute to the victims of the Paris terror attacks.

Then on up to Glasgow and a whistle stop to grab an image of the SSE Hydro similarly illuminated.

With expectations that the demolition at Greenock may begin at 02:00 rather than the anticipated 02:30 it's a quick journey down.

If anything the rain is getting heavier and at this stage I'm questioning my sanity.

Arrived at Greenock having negotiated the start of flooding on the roads - a location is decided upon and I settle in for the wait.

The time comes and goes and eventually a very kind gentleman from the housing association comes to advise there is a delay of about 45 minutes as control of the railway line has just been secured.

After more time elapses and having all but given up, eventually the first siren sounds, followed by the second siren warning, before the final warning shot is fired.

Just after 04:00 the charges are fired and Hawick Court comes tumbling to the ground and all appears to have gone to plan.

Head home after negotiating the traffic control near Pottery Street as the road is now deeply flooded - felt like I was driving through a section of the Clyde.

Then on home for coffee and toast and a bit of editing before climbing in to bed just after 06:00 - been a long day.


SSE Hydro in Glasgow


Titan Crane in Clydebank


Tears from the Sky


Awaiting Detonation

 Starting to Collapse


 Continuing Downwards


 Almost Down


Now the Dust Settles

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

Monday, 16 June 2014

Gareloch Today


A drive over to the Gareloch early doors this morning and caught a French visitor to our waters in lovely warm sunshine.

I spoke with a number of German tourists staying at a Rhu hotel and they were thoroughly enjoying their visit to Scotland - it was nice to hear.

Headed across to see how the dismantling of the submarine Onyx was progressing and managed a few shots courtesy of DRB Marine.

French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) 


Passing Rhu

 Bound for Faslane Naval Base

 Severe Decay

 Escape Hatch Showing Heavy Rust

 Work has Begun

 Vey Poor Condition

 Inside the Fin

Fin

 Empty Battery Compartment

Empty Battery Compartment 

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

Friday, 4 October 2013

Joint Warrior - Military Exercise 132


The time of year has come around again when we have the second of the Joint Warrior military exercises in Scotland.

Sadly this time around we have a very reduced number of ships visiting the Clyde prior to the exercise beginning.

So, an early start across to Rhu to see what the day would bring.

The outcome is that we had two vessels arrive at Faslane, and one headed to Glasgow - meaning a hurried dash to try and catch the Glasgow bound HMS Northumberland.

Nothing more expected so we'll wait until Monday when they will probably depart.

 KNM Utvaer (S303) Norwegian Submarine Approaching Rhu Narrows

 KNM Utvaer (S303) Norwegian Submarine Bound for Faslane

 French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) Passing Rhu Spit

 French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) Passing Rhu Spit

French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) - Off Rhu Spit

 French Frigate 'La Motte-Picquet' (D645) Faslane Bound

HMS Northumberland (F238) at Braehead


HMS Northumberland (F238) Passing Braehead

HMS Northumberland (F238) Passing Braehead

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

Thursday, 27 September 2012

French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646)


Arrivals continued today for the 'Joint Warrior' military exercise.

The French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) passed Greenock on her up to the KGV docks in Glasgow.

More vessels are expected tomorrow bound for both Faslane and Glasgow.

French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) - Svitzer Milford Assisting
 
French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) - Off Greenock
 
French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) - Off Greenock
 
 French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) Helicopter Deck

French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) - Passing Greenock

French Frigate 'Latouche-Tréville' (D646) Helicopter Deck

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

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Le Triomphant - S616 - French Submarine



A very rare visitor to our shores today - a French nuclear submarine came to Faslane.

She is the 'Le Triomphant' and looked splendid as she transited to Faslane at the Gareloch, in the warm sunshine.

Her rather dubious claim to fame is that she collided with a Royal Navy submarine - HMS Vanguard - in the Atlantic Ocean in the night between 3rd and 4th February 2009.

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine

Le Triomphant (S616) Submarine



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