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.

Dreich Afternoon at the Garvel Dry Dock

Arrived at the Garvel dry dock in the rain and not looking too promising.

March has not started well weather wise.

Then a break in the heavy showers and down I go to get some quick shots before they return.

Suitable attired with work boots, hi-vis vest, and hard hat I'm as safe as I can be on the floor of the dock.

The showers don't stay away long and it's a haul back on to the top of the dock and some shelter aboard the MV Saturn.

Hung around a bit but it was becoming obvious I wasn't going to get it dry again, and the light was fading with the low cloud.

Headed home and time to process the images - hope you enjoy them.

 TLC Has Begun

Restoration in Progress

Anchor Aweigh

 Garvel Cobble

 Stavros S Niarchos

 Stern View

 Looking High and Dry

 Miserable Afternoon

Below Decks on the Saturn

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

MV Saturn Returns

The MV Saturn has been berthed at Roseneath for about five years now with an uncertain future.

She was launched in 1977 in Troon, and entered service in February 1978.

She was owned by Caledonian MacBrayne and operated mostly on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay passage and gave many years of faithful service with her sister ships MV Juno and MV Jupiter.

Both have now been dismantled.

Pentland Ferries have now purchased MV Saturn and this will ensure she offers many more years service in and around the waters of Orkney.

She was towed from Roseneath to Greenock by the tugs Biter and Beaver Bay where she will receive some TLC and fresh paint before her journey north.

 Wheelhouse

 Wheelhouse

 Departing Roseneath

 Looking Good Below Decks

 Enroute to Greenock

 Greenock Straight Ahead

 Below Decks

 Happy Transfer Crew

 Enthusiastic Reception

Approaching Garvel Dry Dock

Entering Garvel Dry Dock

Dry Dock Awaits

 Looking Down

 Car Deck

Wheelhouse

Safely Docked

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

Walk Around Greenock Docks

Another wild day with strong winds and heavy prolonged showers.

Nevertheless I took a trip down to James Watt Dock at high tide to see what activity we may have.

Usual works going on, but nice to see the dock so busy with many vessels getting prepared for their next jobs.

Images were taken between the showers.

 Busy James Watt Dock

 'Sound of Scarba' and 'MV Finlaggan'


James Watt Dock

 Maintenance of the Rigging and Sails

'Stavros S Niarchos' in the Marina

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

River Clyde Today

The tall ship "Stavros S Niarchos' arrived at Custom House quay this afternoon and will be there till next week when she will go in to dry dock for a refit.

There are some other images of vessels on the Clyde and in the surrounding dock areas.


Approaching Greenock


Land Ahoy


Advance Landing Party


Custom House Quay in Sight


Starting to Berth

Concentration on the Bridge

Lines Ashore

Tying Up at the Quay

'SD Impetus' and 'SD Oilman' 

'SD Impetus' and 'SD Oilman' Passing Greenock

'Hebridean Princes's at James Watt Dock

'MV Finlaggan' in Dry Dock

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