Dougie Coull Photography

Saturday, 17 October 2015

USS Mount Whitney in Scotland

The USS Mount Whitney arrived in the calm waters of Loch Long this morning.

She is a Blue Ridge class command ship of the US Navy and
is named after Mount Whitney - a peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

She is part of the current Joint Warrior maritime exercise held in Scotland and was last here in 2010.
 
Note her Golden Anchor - an award given by the US Navy for sustaining superior levels of military retention.

She was assisted and safely berthed with the aid of the local Serco tugs.

Under Tow with Serco Tugs

Coming Up to the Jetty

MH-60S Seahawk

Bridge

Coming up Nicely

Crew at the Bow

Abeam of the Jetty

Bridge Party

USS Mount Whitney

Slow Push

Safely Berthed

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

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

The Cruise Season Concludes - Mein Schiff 4

The cruise season is all but over for the Greenock area this year.

A few smaller vessels will be around but tonight saw the 'Mein Schiff 4' depart outbound for Liverpool.

It's been a good season with many new cruise ships coming our way and we now look forward to next year.

Then we'll have more early starts while we hope and pray for favourable weather.

I hope the visitors to the area have enjoyed their cruises and their time ashore.

Departing the Ocean Terminal

Passengers Bid a Fond Farewell

Heading out to Sea

Solitary Figure Bids Farewell

Into the Sunset

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

US Navy Ohio Class Submarine at Faslane

Very fortunate to catch an Ohio Class submarine of the US Navy as she went up to Faslane on the Gareloch in Scotland this morning.

I gather it's the first time a USN SSBN has visited Faslane since 2001.

In the US Navy ballistic missile submarines are designated SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) and are nicknamed 'boomers.'

The sun shone brightly to greet her arrival, and there was some excitement on shore as she passed the Rhu Narrows bound for Faslane Naval Base.

Approaching from the Clyde

Passing Roseneath

Sun Glints off the Casing

Crew

MOD Police Boat Escort

Royal Marines Escorting

Flotilla Passes Rhu Spit

SD Dependable with the Ohio Class

Faslane Bound

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

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

'Regal Princess' Visits Greenock

The cruise ship 'Regal Princess' arrived at Greenock this morning on her maiden visit.

She arrived just before sunrise and canted off the Esplanade before berthing at the Ocean Terminal.

Her last port was Bergan and she departs this evening bound for Belfast.

Passing Gourock before Sunrise

Locals Await her Arrival

'Anglegarth' Assists the Berthing

Canting

Off Greenock Ocean Terminal

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

Saturday, 5 September 2015

Scottish Airshow 2015 - Prestwick and Ayr

Lovely day for the airshow at Ayr, but a cold wind off the beach made it less comfortable.

Opted to head over to see the aircraft at Prestwick during the lunch break - this proved to be a good move.

Vulcan had her final flight in Scotland as she will no longer be flying after this year.

She had a technical problem which gave us a few concerns but all ended well I'm pleased to say.

I'll let the images do the talking and hope you enjoy them.