Govan on the Clyde

Having completed the tour at Fairfields it was a short drive to catch the Govan Ferry across to the North of the river.

Keen to get some photos of the section of (HMS) Prince of Wales - the aircraft carrier currently  under construction.

The section will be moved by barge to Rosyth where it will be assembled with the other section being constructed.

Arranged to go down the river on a RHIB, and thankfully was blessed with a bit of sunshine.

Aboard the Govan Ferry

 Lower Block Section Numbered Four

Barge in Position

Loading Will Take Place Overnight


 Heading Back to Base


Costa del Clyde as the Sun Shines

 Glenlee Sailing Ship

Riverside Museum and the Glenlee 

View Across from the South Side 

 Old Govan Ferry

 St Mungo - Glasgow Fire Boat


Govan Ferry - "Ellens Isle"

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

Fairfield Heritage Centre

Fairfields was a major shipbuilding yard based at Govan in Glasgow.

Here luxurious ocean liners, steamers, and naval ships were built by Clydeside tradesmen for the entire world.

My uncle was a welder in the yard very many years ago.

The original yard has had many different owners and has survived to become one of only two shipyards still in operation on the Clyde today.

BAE Systems now own the yard and shipbuilding continues with naval contracts.

The main office block of the actual Fairfield yard is now separate from the BAE yard and recently underwent a major restoration programme. I hope these images give an idea of how the building looks.

Much credit goes to the volunteers who keep the facility open, and arrange tours and lectures.

 Main Office

Corridor

 Stately Looking

 Exhibits

 Preserved Office

 More Exhibits

Attentive Audience

Model Ships Line the Corridor

Stairwell and Entrance

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

'Crystal Serenity' - Greenock Visit

Crystal Serenity arrived to some welcome sunshine this morning for her first ever visit to Greenock.

 She passed Gourock about 07:15 and made her way along the Greenock Esplanade before berthing at the Ocean Terminal.

 She departed just after 21:30 bound for Liverpool on the next stage of her cruise.

Inward Bound


Passing Greenock Esplanade


Approaching Greenock Ocean Terminal

 Departing Greenock Ocean Terminal

Lights On 

On Her Way


Bound for Sea

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

Cruise Ship 'Marina' - First Greenock Visit

Another cruise ship arrives in Greenock this morning - though sadly on a very dull, grey, wet morning.

 This is the first time visit of the Oceanic Cruise vessel 'Marina' as she journeyed across from Belfast last night.

Let's hope her passengers and crew get some cheer from their time ashore today.

She is scheduled to depart at 20:00 this evening, and she will be bound for Liverpool on the next stop of her UK tour.


Arriving at Greenock Esplanade


Anglegarth Assists with Berthing

Scottish Summer Welcome

 Berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal

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

East Fortune Airshow - 2015

Well, as the weather forecast was fair I headed through to the air show at East Fortune.

I hadn't bought advance tickets as any savings were swallowed up with the booking fee unfortunately.

It was a very busy show and the weather held well until about the last hour of the display, but pleased to say the rain was very light and didn't impact too much.

The sky however was very overcast and the good light we enjoyed earlier in the day wasn't available for the later participants in the flying display.

Parking was £4 - and that covered the cost of a rather rough field with heavy vegetation. I felt sorry for the families dragging their prams over the rough ground. Would have thought it could at least have been trimmed for the day.

Not the best flying display I've witnessed I have to say, and the lack of the Vulcan in her last year of flight was kinda hard to take. A very big miss on the day.

As the Scottish Airshow at Prestwick later in the year offers a free flying display on the Saturday I'll consider my options carefully next year.

A ticket will also be £5 less expensive on the Sunday for the static displays.

We also have the bonus that the Vulcan will be at the Scottish airshow this year.

 CASA 1.131E Jungmann


Red Arrows Display

 Trig Aerobatic Team

Hawk T2 Display Team

Black Cat Team Helicopter

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1F

Sea King Rescue Helicopter 

 RAF Eurofighter Typhoon (ZK349)

RAF Eurofighter Typhoon (ZK349) 


Jaguar

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

MV Horizon - Maiden Visit to Greenock

MV Horizon made her maiden visit to the River Clyde this rather damp, dank morning.

 She arrived at 06:15 having travelled from Reykjavik.

 Expectations are that she will depart about 17:30 - with her next destination as Liverpool.

The vessel was previously operated by Celebrity Cruises prior to her current owners Croisières de France.


Passing Gourock Inbound

Off Greenock Esplanade


 Croisières de France


Approaching the Greenock Ocean Terminal 

Head On

 Berthing at Greenock Ocean Terminal

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

Boabarge 34 Inbound for Glasgow

'Boabarge 34' arrived on the Clyde this morning and was inbound for Glasgow.

She is owned by a Norwegian company - Boa - as is the tug Boa Odin that brought her over.

'Boa Odin' was previously the 'Svitzer Pembroke' and has been here before.

The barge will be loaded with the next section of the aircraft carrier 'HMS Prince of Wales' at BAE's Govan shipyard for transportation to Rosyth on the East coast.


Passing Dunoon

 'Boa Odin'

 Approaching Greenock

Aboard the Barge 

Passing Greenock

Bound for Glasgow

Barge Flotilla passing Greenock


Passing Langbank

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