'Emerald Princess' Departing Greenock Tonight

The cruise ship 'Emerald Princess' departed from Greenock this evening.

At 113,500 tonnes she carries around 3,000 passengers.

Her passengers were fortunate  with the weather on their visit, as the forecast for the town tomorrow is heavy winds, rain, and flooding.

This is her third visit to Greenock having been here in both 2011 and 2012.

She is bound for Cobh - a popular tourist seaport town on the south coast of County Cork in Ireland.

 'Emerald Princess' - Off Greenock Ocean Terminal

 'Emerald Princess' - Off Greenock Esplanade

 'Emerald Princess' Passing Cloch Lighthouse

 'Emerald Princess' Off Cloch Lighthouse - 14 September 2013

'Emerald Princess' Passing Dunoon

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

Bascula Swing Bridge - Near Renfrew

A rare opportunity to photograph the interior of the Bascula Bridge near Renfrew.

It was interesting to see the machinery rooms that house the equipment to raise and lower the bridge, and also the manual standby in event of machinery failure.

 Machinery Room in the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Machinery Room at the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge


Plaque in the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

View from the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Looking Towards Renfrew from the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

Machinery Room in the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge

View from the Inchinnan Bascule Bridge 

Long Way Down

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

ExpeditionCruise Ship 'Bremen' at Greenock

The expedition cruise ship 'MS Bremen' arrived at Greenock for her first visit to our waters this morning.

Her last port of call was Liverpool, and she sails again tonight bound for a cruise off Fingal's Cave.

 Her passengers are on a voyage of eventful cultural history of the UK.

 'MS Bremen' - Approaching Greenock Esplanade

 'MS Bremen' - Off Greenock Esplanade

'Bremen' - Expedition Cruise Ship

'Bremen' - Expedition Cruise Ship

'Bremen' - Off Greenock Ocean Terminal

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

Bascule Bridge - Barge Move with Offshore Wind Turbine Assembly

Another section destined for Methil in Fife left the River Cart.

Interesting to see these various components pass down the river. This one weighs in the region of 500 tonnes.


Bascule Bridge Elevates

 'Biter' and 'Beaver Bay' Enroute to Collect Barge


'Beaver Bay' Enroute to Collect Barge

Barge Moving the Transition Piece for the Samsung 7 MW Offshore Wind Turbine

 Barge Moving the Transition Piece for the Samsung 7 MW Offshore Wind Turbine

 River Pilot Aboard the Barge

'Biter' and Barge Pass Beneath the Bascule Bridge

Safely Through the Gap

 'Beaver Bay' at the Barge Stern

Bascule Bridge Lowers to Allow Traffic to Resume


Bascule Bridge - Shipping Movements Video

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

Walking Around Greenock

As my car was in for it's annual MOT I took along my wee Olympus camera and went walkabout in Greenock till it was ready for collection.

When it was ready I headed home for lunch then back down to walk Maya up the 'Cut'.

Great weather and down to my T-shirt for the walk.

Here are a selection of some of my pics from the day.

Victoria Tower

 Well Park

Well Park

Flowers

 Tree with Heart

 Busy Bee

 My Old Office - Telephone Exchange

 Town Centre Statue

 Victoria Tower

Canadian Gees In Dam

Busy Dam

 Spent Thistle

Loch Thom

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

'City of Adelaide' - formerly 'HMS Carrick'

A historic day as the sailing ship 'City of Adelaide' - formerly 'HMS Carrick' - was formally handed over into the care of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ltd.

This South Australian charitable organisation intend to restore her to her former glory and she will have a new life in Australia.

Sam Galbraith of the Scottish Maritime Museum passed ownership to Peter Christopher - one of their directors - in a ceremony at the Linthouse.

She will now be towed to London by the tug 'Dutch Pioneer' and then continue her journey half way around the world, finally arriving in Port Adelaide in the spring of next year.

There was a peaceful protest group from 'SCARF' and they had hoped the vessel would remain in the UK for restoration. Sadly this wasn't to be, however the fact that she has been saved and will be preserved is perhaps the most important outcome.

Peter Christopher Receiving Ownership from Sam Galbraith of the Scottish Maritime Museum

Local Schoolboy Reads Extracts from Letters

Lone Piper Leads the Guests and Dignitaries 

'SCARF' Protestors from Sunderland

 Respective Flags of Both Countries

School Kids Join in the Day

  City of Adelaide - HMS Carrick

 City of Adelaide - HMS Carrick

 Moving on to the Barge

Workers Loading the Ship Aboard the Barge 

'Dutch Pioneer' - Towing Tug 

'Dutch Pioneer' - Towing Tug  

Safely on the Barge

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