USNS Willam McLean at Hunterston in Scotland

USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) - American supply ship arriving and berthing at Hunterston Jetty this morning.

She's in for a short logistical stop then sailing tomorrow.

Svitzer tugs Completeing the Berthing

Almost Berthed

Canting to Go in Astern

Arriving Off Fairlie

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

HMS Queen Elizabeth - First Clyde Visit

Picking up on my Blog after a long absence.

Very early start this morning to ensure I was in good positions to get shoreside images.

Light couldn't have been better making things more enjoyable.

Berthing at Glen Mallan Jetty

Approaching Glen Mallan

Approaching Cove

Passing Innellan

Passing Cloch Lighthouse

Tugs in Attendance

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

USNS William McLean in Scotland

The USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12) is shown here just before she departed the jetty at Loch Striven.

She is a US Navy vessel and part of the current Joint Warrior maritime exercise in Scotland.

The twelfth Lewis and Clark class of ship.

Her duty is to provide supplies to other ships at sea - including ammunition, food,  spare parts,  general stores, and small quantities of fuel.

Quite a Size

Preparing to Depart

 Lines are Let go

Workboat Assisting

Tugs take the Strain


First Navy Jack - Motto is 'Don't Tread on Me'

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

HMS Argyll - River Clyde

HMS Argyll passed Greenock this morning on her way upriver to the KGV docks in Glasgow. This is her first visit in five years.

She is the longest serving type-23 frigate in the Royal Navy fleet.

Originally built at Yarrows up in Scotstoun she was launched in 1989 and commissioned in 1991. 

Last year she completed a successful deployment to the Caribbean where £77 million worth of drugs were seized with her assistance.

Earlier this year she tracked a Russian frigate off the coast of France and monitored her movement through the English Channel.

HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate fitted with advanced Artisan radar, used her Lynx helicopter and sensors to locate and monitor the movement of the Russian warship as she returned from a Mediterranean deployment.

HMS Argyll is expected to slip her berth at 11:00 on Tuesday next week.

Thereafter she enters a period of maintenance to repair and enhance systems and the hull.


Approaching Greenock


Passing Greenock Bound for Glasgow

Passing East India Harbour

 Glasgow Bound

 MOD Police Escort

 Lookout

Flags in the Wind

Approaching KGV Docks in Glasgow 

Friendly Wave for Glasgow

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.

KNM Thor Heyerdahl Arrives on the Clyde

The Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class frigate 'KNM Thor Heyerdahl' was an early morning arrival today and passed Greenock around 07:20.

She then headed up to the KGV docks in Glasgow where she was safely berthed with the assistance of the tugs Battler and Bruiser.

Passing Greenock


 Glasgow Bound

At Langbank

Bruiser Prepares to Assist

 Passing Yarrows Shipyard

 Preparing for Berthing

Approaching KGV Docks

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.