Pretty Ivy

I thought I'd go big for my first photos of 2014. At 180 metres in length, Pretty Ivy is one of the larger ships to sail up the River Clyde to Glasgow.

After unloading her cargo, she sailed back down today using one of SERCO's tugs for assitance as well as the more usual Svitzer tug at the front.

River Clyde this week

It's been a while since I've been down the harbour but I've been twice this week. We've had a few visitors making a welcome appearance.

Tug 'Keverne' had come up to Govan with empty barge 'Woolston', presumably to take some aircraft carrier parts to Rosyth. Here she is coming back down river unladen.

'Northern River' is a SERCO support vessel. She is a relatively recent arrival to the Clyde having entered service last summer. This my first time seeing her up close. 

The Finnish ferry 'Finnarrow' damaged herself while berthing and has been brought to Greenock for repair. She is due to go into drydock next week.

She was towed to the Clyde by tug 'Hellas' before local tugs 'Anglegarth' and 'Svitzer Milford' took over to bring her into the Great Harbour.

River Clyde this afternoon

Not much was moving on the river late afternoon but I did manage to catch SD Raasay. Not sure if I've seen her before at Greenock but good to catch her in the old Serco colours.

Clyde Clipper also made a rare trip out onto the river with a good size party on board her.

A yacht also passed by on her way to James Watt Dock marina. It's good to see that the dock is flourishing in it's new role.

SD Raasay passing East India Harbour

SD Raasay

SD Raasay inbound for Great Harbour

Clyde Clipper coming out of Victoria Harbour

Clyde Clipper

Clyde Clipper on a cruise down river

Yacht heading for James Watt Dock marina

Operation Joint Warrior, Sunday & Monday

A bit late as always, but a few pictures from last weekend's comings and goings from some of the participants of the current Joint Warrior exercise

3 Serco tugs returning to base

HMS Bulwark off to join in the war games

Stern view of Bulwark showing her 'back door' for launching landing craft

HMS St Albans entering Rhu narrows

Type 23 'Duke' class frigate, St Albans

Survey ship, H88 HMS Enterprise

HNoMS Uredd, small enough for working in coastal waters

S305 HNoMS Uredd

Rear of Bulwark submerged for landing craft to enter

Setting sun reflecting off side of Bulwark in Firth of Clyde

On Monday the ships headed back out. I managed down to East India harbour and caught a couple of frigates on their way down from Glasgow.

German Sachsen class frigate Hessen

F221 Hessen

HNLMS De Ruyter

HNLMS De Ruyter

HNLMS De Ruyter, Royal Netherlands Navy frigate

SD VIctoria

Serco training ship, SD Victoria returned to Greenock this afternoon. The weather was terrible the first time she came, so I took advantage of the drier conditions today to catch a few pictures. 

SD Victoria approaching Greenock

Passing East India harbour

Backing in to Great Harbour past SD Salmoor & Kommandor Calum

Berthing alongside Northern River