Merchant Ships: Various
Clyde
2021
*Page under Construction*
Introduction
As of last year (?)* any non-military nautical traffic on the Clyde will be included in a single Merchant Shipping page. A combination of less ships coming upriver to Clydebank or the Glasgow city docks, further reduced as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, and less opportunity for me to get out and photograph vessels that do appear, means that it`s no longer worthwhile creating individual pages for bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, general cargo vessels etc. The latest entry for this year will appear at the top of the page.
I`ve taken hundreds of bulk carrier shots over the years and many of the following years are still incomplete. Links to previous entries appear below...
Likewise, general cargo ships appearing on the Clyde have previously been given their own pages each year. I`ll put the links here when I get the chance, but like the bulkers, not all have been completed to the volume of entries...
Name - *start at top*
January
Sebat
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Most of the ships that sailed upriver to Clydebank or Glasgow during January arrived in the early hours of the morning due to high tide times, ruling out photos. The majority were coasters, however, the first bulk carrier to visit the upper Clyde this year was 150 metre-long Panamanian-flagged Sebat (IMO: 9151383) which arrived and departed in the dark at the beginning of the month. Coincidentally, I got some shots of the same vessel departing after she visited last April (right).
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Sten Baltic & Cemisle
It wasn`t until Monday 25 January that I was able to get my first ship shots of 2021. Two vessels, namely cement carrier Cemisle and Oil / Chemical tanker Sten Baltic were due to pass under the Erskine Bridge around sunup but by the time I scraped the ice from the car and got down to the old ferry slipway, Cemisle was just passing by. She was on the standard cement run from Belfast which she has been operating for many years.
Sten Baltic wasn`t far behind and she sailed into view soon after I`d walked under the bridge to greet her. Red-hulled etc Sten fleet //* was delivering grades from Mongstad in Norway.
Sten Baltic wasn`t far behind and she sailed into view soon after I`d walked under the bridge to greet her. Red-hulled etc Sten fleet //* was delivering grades from Mongstad in Norway.
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February
FPV Jura & Challenger of Leith
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The night of Tuesday 2 / Wednesday 3 February was a stormy one which resulted in problems for several large vessels in the Firth of Clyde. // The containership Elbspirit was unable to tie up at Ocean Terminal and remained at anchor // Anch ToB A2 for GOT // etc until the 7th etc* This was a minor inconvenience, however, compared to etc // In the afternoon of the 3rd, Arklow Cape sailed upriver to berth at Shieldhall, and another coaster, Lumen, left Diesel Wharf shortly afterwards, travelling light for Liverpool. Jura then Challenger of Leith followed etc (to edit)*
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Valaris DS4 broke free from the jetty at the old Hunterston Ore Terminal and drifted dangerously toward the east coast of nearby Cumbrae?* // A Rescue helicopter from Prestwick was scrambled, as was the Troon lifeboat and several other vessels including tugs from Greenock made their way to the locus to assist. The other pipelayer, Ensco DS 8 etc was also at risk of snapping her moorings and //
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Jura left the KGV mid-morning on Sunday 7 February but I didn`t bother photographing her on the way out to resume patrol as the weather was even colder than when she arrived with similar visibility but intermittent light wind blown snow etc. //
(Incident images © The Scotsman / Daily Record / Cumbrae Tourist & Travel Info) *
Fugro Frontier
Saturday 6 February 2021: Sailed down from Aberdeen. // (IMO: 9701657) is a Research/Survey Vessel that was built in 2014 (7 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Bahamas. // It’s carrying capacity is 456 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 3.3 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 53.6 meters and her width is 12.5 meters. // 1309 tons // DWT 450 tons // Builder DAMEN SHIPYARD GORINCHEM - GORINCHEM, NETHERLANDS (to edit)*
A couple of Pied Wagtails were flitting about, seeking out flies and other bugs on the stone embankment but, unlike this Robin, they evaded my camera.
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the compact flexible platform supports a wide range of offshore services. With a typical operational profile of geophysical survey and shallow geotechnical investigations operations are available up to 2000m WD. Its limited 3m draft, specially designed T-frame and versatile back deck add to its operational capabilities both offshore and close inshore. The 53m-long vessel is prepared for dynamic positioning and equipped with state-of-the-art survey equipment. The vessel can be configured to tow a variety of survey equipment including up to a four source and four streamer 3D seismic spread. It is also outfitted with a large T-frame to allow the deployment of two large scale gradiometers at once. (to edit)*
The Fugro Frontier can deploy up to eight ROTV controlled magnetometers at once providing the most efficient UXO survey available. The vessel can also be set up to support ROV, geotechnical and environmental operations as well as 2D seismic projects. (to edit)*
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Classifications Bureau Veritas
Flag state/ Port Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) Build(er) December 2014 – Damen Shipyards Galati IMO/Cal sign 9701657 / C6BH4 (Charlie Six Bravo Hotel Four) Official Number 7000675 MMSI No. 311 000 263 YN Contr. 556068/1272 Dimensions Length overall 53.7 m Beam (mid) 12.5 m Draft (summer) 3.1 m + 0.25 m blister |
Net Tonnage 1,400 GT
Propulsion 2 x Azimuth thrusters (electric)
Bowthrusters 1 x Tunnel thrusters (electric)
This vessel has a cruising speed of 10 knots, but this will vary depending on survey requirements.
It`s maximum speed is 11.2 kn.
Electric power
Diesel generator sets 4 x 372 kW
UPSsupply survey 1 x 30 kva, 220 vac
Survey equipment includes various navigational, acoustic and global positioning systems, CCTV cameras, echosounders and side scans sonors.
Propulsion 2 x Azimuth thrusters (electric)
Bowthrusters 1 x Tunnel thrusters (electric)
This vessel has a cruising speed of 10 knots, but this will vary depending on survey requirements.
It`s maximum speed is 11.2 kn.
Electric power
Diesel generator sets 4 x 372 kW
UPSsupply survey 1 x 30 kva, 220 vac
Survey equipment includes various navigational, acoustic and global positioning systems, CCTV cameras, echosounders and side scans sonors.
March
YM Fuji
Monday 8 March / longer days meant there was still enough light to capture the arrival of YM Fuji (IMO: 9622760) on the Upper Clyde when she sailed past Erskine around 18:00 hrs / etc. Derince, Turkey with a hold full of soda ash destined for Riverside Quay in the city. / etc*
CMS Boxer led the way with Svitzer Anglegarth tied on at the stern.
YM FUJI is a General Cargo that was built in 2015 (6 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Malta. It's carrying capacity is 10952 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 7.8 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 131 meters and her width is 19 meters. Former names OXFUJI (2019, Malta) YO CO (2018, Malta). Builder MARMARA SHIPYARD - KOCAELI, TURKEY owned / managed by YILMAR SHIPPING & TRADING - ISTANBUL, TURKEY. (to edit). . It's gross tonnage is 7370 tons. (to edit)*
Swans & Seal
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MV Coruisk
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Saturday 13 March 2021, etc from the KGV to Gourock. CalMac ferry etc* CMS Boxer etc*
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Aasnes & Jaguar
Two ships were photographed today etc // General cargo vessel Aasnes (IMO: 9101546) was built in 1996 and is sailing under the flag of Gibraltar. On this occasion she was transporting road salt from Kilroot to the KGV Dock and for a change of scenery I caught her passing the Renfrew Ferry slipway opposite Yoker.
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Sunday 14 March 2021. Jaguar wind turbine components from Cartagena, a port city and naval base in the Murcia region of southeast Spain. // JAGUAR (IMO: 9613628) is a General Cargo that was built in 2012 and is sailing under the flag of Netherlands. It’s carrying capacity is 6000 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 4.4 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 107.95 meters and her width is 16 meters. // Gross tonnage 5170 tons / DWT 6000 tons / Builder SHIPKITS - GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS. Flag NETHERLANDS. Home port VLIELAND. Manager & owner SHIPOWNERS SUPPORT - FARMSUM, NETHERLANDS (to edit)*
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Eken
Sunday 28 March 2021, First day of summer etc the oil products tanker Eken (IMO number 9286827) brought grades from Kalundborg, Denmark, to the Clydebank Oil Terminal. One of the Ektank fleet, a company based in Gothenburg, Sweden she is currently under the charge of Swedish outfit OSM Shipmanagement of Hisings Baka. This vessel, a product of Qiuxin Shipyard, Shanghai, dates from 2004. // MMSI 258894000 / Gross tonnage 8829 tons / DWT 13702 tons / Flag NORWAY INTERNATIONAL REGISTER / Home port ARENDAL. This is the first time I`ve seen this vessel on the Clyde. etc* (to edit)*
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April
Paddle boarders etc*
Bro Alma
The weather was superb on Sunday 11 April 2021 when tanker Bro Alma (IMO Number 9356610) arrived from Rotterdam with Grades for the Clydebank Oil Terminal. One of the numerous such vessels that make up the sizeable Maersk Tankers fleet, she was built in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2008 by the Celik Tekne Shipyard. Several of her sisters also have the Bro prefix, with Bro Distributer and Bro Nordby in particular having visited the Clyde numerous times over the years.
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Bro Alma is 144 metres long, has a deadweight of 17,000 tonnes (Gross tonnage 12162 tons) and currently flies the Netherlands flag, home ported in Delfzijl, a city in the province of Groningen in the northeast of the country.
This inquisitive Seal was slowly making its way downriver from the Clyde / Cart confluence as the tanker approached.
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Greenock & Gourock
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With the `stay local` travel restrictions lifted just a few days previously, I nipped along to Greenock early on Tuesday 20 April to get a few shots of Faslane-bound Type 23 Duke-class Frigate HMS Kent (F78), but by the time I got there I only succeeded in a long distance view from the Esplanade as she headed into the Gare Loch. Three merchant vessels weren`t far behind, but with high water not due until tea time, the two larger ones, tanker Elisabeth Schulte and cargo ship Peak Bergen, had to kill a bit of time before heading upriver. No problem for coaster Arklow Venture, however, and she headed in shortly after these shots were taken, her previous port of call being Belfast. //
A misty view of |
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Rather than wind turbine components, Peak Bergen was transporting a mast section to BAE Systems` Govan yard where etc HMS Glasgow etc*
I stopped off briefly at Greenock`s James Watt Dock on the way back to photograph MV Loch Seaforth etc // Caledonian MacBrayne's largest ferry has limped into Greenock for what has been described by the operator as 'major repair' by the town's marine engineering experts at Garvel dry dock. // The 118-metre long MV Loch Seaforth is being worked on by the town's engineering experts at Dales Marine's Garvel dry dock. The £42 million ferry — launched in 2014 — has had to be taken off of the Stornoway-Ullapool route after developing a failure on her port side engine. (to edit)* (Photo below left © Greenock Telegraph).
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A CalMac spokeswoman confirmed: "The port engine has failed, we don't know why yet, but we'll fully investigate to try to avoid this happening again." MV Isle of Lewis has temporarily taken over the Loch Seaforth's duties. Hebridean Princess (below) was berthed nearby with Argyll Flyer etc?
On the afternoon of Wednesday 21 April, the paddle steamer Waverley sailed down to Greenock from Glasgow, where she had berthed for the winter, for her annual dry-docking. She initial tied up alongside Greenock’s Custom House Quay but was later moved into the dry dock at Dales Marine’s Garvel yard. Following damage sustained in a well-publicised collision with Arran pier last year, Waverley’s bow will be repaired, several paddles and some steel will be replaced in the port paddle box, and a full survey of the hull will be undertaken followed by a paint job. The combination of routine maintenance, expensive repairs and the impact of COVID on sailings may have sealed the fate of the iconic vessel, but donations continue to pour in from supporters. Hopefully we`ll see her back on the water this summer.
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(Above images © Waverley Excursions / inverclydenow.com)
Understandably, there`s no public access to the Garvel Dry Dock facility. Serco Marine`s mooring lighter SD Moorfowl was also being worked on.
Further east, at Port Glasgow`s Inchgreen Dock etc // MPI Adventure, a huge wind turbine installation vessel which had been berthed at Inchgreen Dock for some time. Designed to transport, lift and install wind turbines and their foundations, she is the world’s most advanced and most efficient WTIV, in terms of jacking speed, deck space, lifting capacity and positioning capabilities. MPI Adventure`s main crane has the capacity to lift 1,000-tonnes plus there`s a 50-tonne-capacity auxiliary crane enabling her to transport, lift, install and decommission components such as foundations, wind turbines, met masts and transformer stations. After her stay on the Clyde MPI Adventure set off for Belfast. (to edit)*
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Einstein
I took this head-on shot of Einstein (IMO: 9483346) on Thursday 22 April, as she unloaded at Clydeport, Greenock. The 151 metre-long Cypriot-flagged container ship was built in 2012 and after her visit to the Clyde she sailed to Liverpool via Dublin.
Elisabeth Schulte
Next tanker to call at the Clydebank Oil Terminal was Elisabeth Schulte (IMO 9439840) on Friday 23 April. It was a still morning but a hint of a breeze began as she sailed into view, spoiling an otherwise perfect reflection.
Gross tonnage 11246 tons
DWT 16371 tons
Year of build 2010
Builder JIANGZHOU UNION SHIPBUILDING - RUI CHANG, CHINA
Flag ISLE OF MAN (UK)
Home port DOUGLAS (ISLE OF MAN)
Manager & owner BSM HELLAS - ATHENS, GREECE (to edit)*
DWT 16371 tons
Year of build 2010
Builder JIANGZHOU UNION SHIPBUILDING - RUI CHANG, CHINA
Flag ISLE OF MAN (UK)
Home port DOUGLAS (ISLE OF MAN)
Manager & owner BSM HELLAS - ATHENS, GREECE (to edit)*
Anglegarth escorted the vessel on first part of her journey when she set off on the return voyage to Rotterdam the following morning. Elisabeth Schulte passed inbound Danish-flagged tanker Bro Nordby at Dumbarton Rock? etc.
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Pipe Layers at Hunterston
I took my first photos of the two huge pipe-laying vessels, Valaris DS4 and Ensco DS 8 (See February above) at Hunterston on 24 April. I drove down early, primarily to catch the US Navy etc a likely Joint Warrior (LINK)* participant which was berthed alongside etc // USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), ex-USS Supply (AOE-6), is the lead ship of the Supply-class fast combat support ships. She was commissioned in 1994 and decommissioned in 2001, after which she was transferred for service with the U.S. Military Sealift Command. // The pilot cutter Skua etc
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The cairn, in a small seafront garden on Bay Street, commemorates three generations of William Fifes who built world renowned racing yachts at this place from the early 19th Century until 1939. Several Americas Cup contenders were built here. The plaque (one of four) reads as follows... // `William Fife II (Sr) 1821-1902. `He consolidated the reputation of the yard. His first success was the cutter 'Stella'. 'Fiona' known as 'The Fawn O' Fairlie' was the top scoring boat in her class for eight seasons. Among his other designs were the successful race winners 'Cymba' 'Bloodhound, 'Cythera' and 'Neva'. This was the golden of yacht building for the yard and Fife II received worldwide recognition for his designs and craftsmanship`. (to edit)*
Australis
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VLCC Australis has been permanently berthed at the Finnart Oil terminal on Loch Long as storage tanker since the spring of this year at the start of a two-year stint. Shipbrokers said refiner Petroineos Trading has chartered the 299,000-dwt vessel (built 2003) at $20,000 per day. Australis is owned and managed by Athens-based Chandris Hellas and sails under a Greek flag. Chandris currently has nine tankers in its fleet, four of which are Very Large Crude Carriers. Australis was originally christened the Front Saga, a name she kept until October 2003 when she became Saga for a short time, receiving her current identity in the February of the following year. Ashana was the last tanker to be used in a storage capacity at Finnart. She left in June 2016 and ended up as DS Velvet and was reduced to scrap on the beaches of Gadani, Southern Pakistan, at the end of 2018 following a career lasting just 19 years. // Tug Svitzer Anglegarth was on shift as safety / fire boat. (to edit)*
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Seaplane flight Oct 2019. Use aerial shot*
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Rosneath etc trawler Endeavour etc*
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BBC Lima
Wednesday 28 April 2021, BBC Lima (IMO: 9513622) / Former names BREMEN (2015, Antigua & Barbuda), MCL BREMEN (2012, Antigua & Barbuda). General cargo vessel / Operating status Active / Flag Germany / Gross tonnage 7138 tons /Deadweight 7819 tons. Length 130 m / Breadth 16 m / Year of build 2010 / Builder DONGFANG SHIPBUILDING - YUEQING, CHINA. Home port LEER / Owner Manager SCHEPERS REEDEREI - HAREN EMS, GERMANY. Description BBC LIMA is a General cargo vessel built in 2010 by DONGFANG SHIPBUILDING - YUEQING, CHINA. Currently sailing under the flag of Germany. Formerly also known as BREMEN, MCL BREMEN. It's gross tonnage is 7138 tons. (to edit)* // Riverside Quay with soda ash etc*
May
Shaman Wisdom
Saturday 8 May 2021.
White Bay
White Bay Friday 14 May 2021 etc*
June
Wed 9 June 2021: Passengers on a cruise ship touring the UK have been told they will not be allowed to disembark in Scotland. The MSC Virtuosa's operator says Scottish government Covid rules block it from entering the port of Greenock. The government has said domestic cruises can only restart when restrictions in all of Scotland reach level one. It insisted the decision was based on the risks "between both cruises and the wider travel context". The MSC Virtuosa left Liverpool earlier this week for a seven-night cruise, with planned stops in Greenock in Inverclyde, as well as Belfast, Southampton and the Isle of Portland. It was then due to stop in Greenock again on the return journey. It can carry more than 6,000 passengers but has just under 900 currently on board to allow for social-distancing measures.
The Scottish Passenger Agents Association (SPAA) confirmed that Wednesday's scheduled stop in Greenock had been cancelled. The ship was due to dock in Greenock at about 09:30, departing at 20:00 the same day. The industry body said the situation meant Scots on board the vessel were effectively "barred from setting foot in their own country". Passengers will not be able to get on the ship at Greenock either. The SPAA said it understood 75% of passengers on board were fully vaccinated, and had recently tested negative. The organisation's president, Joanne Dooey, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme she believed the decision was "ludicrous" when people can travel into Scotland by train or car unhindered. She said: "We had the Northern Belle in last week to Edinburgh from Manchester which had lots of tourists on it with no testing at all. "What's the difference between a cruise ship coming in and football taking place in Glasgow with no testing being put in place? "And when are we ever going to have confidence in the vaccination progress? We are going to have to live with new variants coming in and we have to get on with our lives." The SPAA anticipated that a third of those currently on board were expected to go ashore for excursions on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Scottish government said it fully understood "the impact of the current restrictions on domestic cruises". It added: "We explained our concerns about the transmission risks posed by cruise vessels in an update to industry on the 24 May and confirmed that we would clarify the position in June.
"Following extensive engagement with stakeholders, we have now confirmed that domestic cruises can restart when all of Scotland reaches level one and we have made industry, including the operator, aware of this." An MSC spokeswoman said: "In light of recent information received, we are now awaiting further clarification from the relevant authorities in Scotland about the situation for cruising which regrettably means that we have had to cancel our proposed visit to Greenock tomorrow. "We hope that our calls to Scotland with our special cruises can commence soon considering how much we were looking forward to welcoming our Scottish guests onboard MSC Virtuosa and how we are aware of the important and widespread contribution that the cruise industry makes to Scotland." Affected passengers have been advised to contact the operator for further information. (BBC News to edit)*
The Scottish Passenger Agents Association (SPAA) confirmed that Wednesday's scheduled stop in Greenock had been cancelled. The ship was due to dock in Greenock at about 09:30, departing at 20:00 the same day. The industry body said the situation meant Scots on board the vessel were effectively "barred from setting foot in their own country". Passengers will not be able to get on the ship at Greenock either. The SPAA said it understood 75% of passengers on board were fully vaccinated, and had recently tested negative. The organisation's president, Joanne Dooey, told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme she believed the decision was "ludicrous" when people can travel into Scotland by train or car unhindered. She said: "We had the Northern Belle in last week to Edinburgh from Manchester which had lots of tourists on it with no testing at all. "What's the difference between a cruise ship coming in and football taking place in Glasgow with no testing being put in place? "And when are we ever going to have confidence in the vaccination progress? We are going to have to live with new variants coming in and we have to get on with our lives." The SPAA anticipated that a third of those currently on board were expected to go ashore for excursions on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Scottish government said it fully understood "the impact of the current restrictions on domestic cruises". It added: "We explained our concerns about the transmission risks posed by cruise vessels in an update to industry on the 24 May and confirmed that we would clarify the position in June.
"Following extensive engagement with stakeholders, we have now confirmed that domestic cruises can restart when all of Scotland reaches level one and we have made industry, including the operator, aware of this." An MSC spokeswoman said: "In light of recent information received, we are now awaiting further clarification from the relevant authorities in Scotland about the situation for cruising which regrettably means that we have had to cancel our proposed visit to Greenock tomorrow. "We hope that our calls to Scotland with our special cruises can commence soon considering how much we were looking forward to welcoming our Scottish guests onboard MSC Virtuosa and how we are aware of the important and widespread contribution that the cruise industry makes to Scotland." Affected passengers have been advised to contact the operator for further information. (BBC News to edit)*
Bro Nyborg & Deo Gloria
Thursday 10 June. Danish-flagged Bro Nyborg to Clydebank then, a couple of hours later dredger Deo Gloria also arrived at the Rothesay Dock* for the annual riverbed clean ? etc.* I caught the latter vessel outbound a couple of days later etc*
July
August
September