Vision of the Seas - Greenock Visit

The cruise ship 'Vision of the Seas' arrived in Greenock at 06:30 this morning having travelled down from Invergordon overnight.

She arrived a little early with 07:00 being her expected arrival time, so an early start for those wishing to catch some photographs.

She is on a British Isles cruise and will depart this evening and head to Dublin.

As always it's nice to see these visitors to Greenock.

'Vision of the Seas' - Approaching Greenock Esplanade

 'Vision of the Seas'

 'Vision of the Seas' - Greenock Esplanade

'Vision of the Seas' - Greenock Esplanade 

 'Vision of the Seas' - Greenock Esplanade

 'Vision of the Seas' Approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal

 'Vision of the Seas' Berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal

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

US Submarine - Faslane Bound

An American Virginia Class submarine - the USS Missouri - passed through Rhu Narrows this morning as she headed on up to Faslane Naval base.

She was escorted by the Serco tugs SD Dependable and SD Reliable.

Always nice to see our American allies come to our shores, and friendly waves were exchanged.

USS Missouri Approaching Rhu Narrows

 SD Reliable Escorts the USS Missouri

 A Friendly Wave from Both Sides

 SD Reliable Assists


SD Dependable and SD Reliable Escorting Through Rhu Narrows 

USS Missouri Faslane Bound

Faslane Bound 

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

Titan Crane - Clydebank

Having watched the 'Astoria' berth in Rothesay Dock I turned my attention to the Titan Crane.

My last visit was in 2008 and again, with favourable weather, I opted to buy a ticket and spend some time on site before heading home.

Pleased that I did as there have been some changes with a tour now part of the event.

Bungee jumpers are also a regular feature on weekends - better them than me I have to say.

Would recommend a visit - unless you are wary of heights. Perfectly safe of course, but you are fairly high when on the crane itself.


Titan's Bus

Bungee Jumper

 Crane View

Bungee Jumper

View from Crane

View from Crane

Machinery Room

View from Crane

  Titan Crane

 Titan Crane

  Titan Crane

 Titan Crane

 Titan Crane

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

Astoria - Berthing at Rothesay Dock

Seeing the 'Astoria' heading for Rothesay Dock, and it being a nice sunny morning, I headed to Clydebank to get some photographs.

Weather was changeable but stayed dry, though quite windy.

As always, this is a good spot to watch the tugs at work as they manoeuvre these large tankers through the gap and in to the Dock.


'Astoria' Arrives at Rothesay Dock

Ayton Cross Starts to Assist 

 'Ayton Cross' Assisting

 Canting

Astoria Goes Astern


In Rothesay Dock


Almost Completed Berthing


Astoria - Rothesay Dock from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

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

Gourock's Darroch Park - Animal Farm

Always enjoy a walk around the pet's corner in Darroch Park.

The long term resident donkey - Mary - passed away recently and it was nice to see that she has a fine replacement in her stead.

A few images as I walked around.

 Hen

Duck

 Keeping an Eye on Me

Duck

Duck

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

Ronja Viking - Returns from Sea Trials

 'Ronja Viking' as she returns from sea trials after her re-fit in the Garvel Dry Dock.

She looked resplendent with her new paintwork as she came in to the James Watt Dock.

A quick cant and she tied up alongside the dock wall.


 Ronja Viking Arriving at James Watt Dock

 Ronja Viking Canting


 Ronja Viking in James Watt Dock

 Ronja Viking

 Ronja Viking Tying Up

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

Inverkip Power Station - Chimney Demolition

The iconic chimney of the now defunct Power Station at Inverkip was demolished tonight at 22:00.

The first blast - 90 metres up - was followed closely by another one at ground level.

It will be missed by many as it was a landmark of this area.

At a height of 778 ft it dominated the landscape and was Scotland's tallest freestanding structure.

 More than 1.4m bricks encased in 20,000 tonnes of reinforced concrete were involved in it's construction - and I myself was present when it was being built.

Many onlookers gathered on the hillside behind the chimney and many took to the river in small craft to witness the demolition. They were not disappointed at the spectacle.

The Worker Gives an Indication of Scale and Chimney Size

Demolition Workers

Onlookers and Media Gather on the Hillside

Police Ensuring that No Persons Remained inside the Exclusion Zone


Charges Detonate

Starting to Fall

Crumbling Down 

Almost There

Gone

Only Dust Remains


Inverkip Chimney Demolition from Dougie Coull on Vimeo.

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