Few Hours at Prestwick Airport

A fairly short time spent at Prestwick International Airport (PIK) today as the Super Galaxy had stayed overnight and it was rumoured it may leave sometime around Lunch.

As luck would have it I managed to get there in time to get a few shots before she started up and departed.

I opted to stay a while longer to catch what other traffic I could before heading home.

Waiting for Clearance

 Getting Ready to Close the Doors

Trundling out to the Runway

 Army Plane Flies Overhead

Super Galaxy is on Her Way

 Coastguard Aircraft Departing

 Piper Aircraft Taking Off

Ryanair On It's Way

 Colourful Helicopter Departs


Pilatus  Aircraft

Air Sea Rescue 

Cessna 441

 Coming in to Land

Cessna 525 Citation Jet

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'

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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

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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

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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

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'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.