The Flickr Imo Image Generatr

A view of 'Iolair' outfitting in the Great Harbour, Greenock, showing a pontoon and columns.

The semi-submersible was built for BP as an MSV - maintenance and support vessel, and later used in a variety of roles including ESV - emergency support vessel, diving support and fire-fighting. She was sold by BP in 1995 and is still in operation, currently in the Gulf of Mexico.

She featured on a Post Office stamp in 1983 celebrating British Engineering Achievements.

IMO 7816070
Built 1982 Scott Lithgow (Lithgow), Port Glasgow
11,019 gt

Scanned Print
1981

A view east towards Port Glasgow, taken from the deck of the semi-submersible 'Iolair', outfitting in Great Harbour.

The ship in the foreground is (I think) 'Traquair', an LPG Carrier built by Ailsa shipyard, with the fore end being built at Ferguson Bros., Port Glasgow, who completed the ship.

The bi-lobe LPG tank ashore will be lifted into the vessel.

IMO 8010738
Built 1982 Ailsa/Ferguson, Scotland
7,230t dwt
Scrapped 2017

Behind are various shipyards, prominent being Lithgows with the goliath crane and slab of hull inclined on the berth.

Scanned Print
1981

Quaysider was a good looking 1950s tug, originally from the Lawson-Batey fleet, incorporated into Tyne Tugs in 1958.

Seen here on a buoy in the river.

Behind is an Irish Shipping bulk carrier in dry dock. If memory serves, she is the 'Irish Larch', IMO 7312294 built by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (Fairfield).

Quaysider
IMO 5287823
Built 1955 Mutzelfeldtwerft Nord, Germany
122 gt
Scrapped c.2004

Scanned Print
1980

My own photograph of the Lloyd Brasileiro general cargo ship 'Itape' alongside in Glasgow, looking downriver on a gloomy day in 1979.

IMO 7043350
Built 1982 Ishibras, Brazil
11,985 gt
Scrapped 1998

Scanned Instamatic Print
1979

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

In this River Clyde view, the Lloyd Brasileiro general cargo ship 'Itaimbe' is being led by the Clyde Shipping tug 'Flying Foam'. The Lloyd Brasileiro ships were regulars in Glasgow at the time.

Itaimbe
IMO 7016541
Built 1971 Ishibras, Brazil
10,416 grt
Scrapped 1989

Flying Foam
IMO 5117169
Built 1962 Ferguson Bros, Port Glasgow
184 gt

Scanned Print, undated

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional British cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

Hapag-Lloyd was formed in 1970 through a merger between Hamburg-American Line (HAPAG) (founded 1847) and Norddeutscher Lloyd (founded 1857).

It has steadily grown into one of the world's largest container lines.

'Elbe Express' was one of the original container ships, and in 1968 with 'Weser Express' inaugurated the first European fully containerised service over the Atlantic to New York.

Seen here at Clydeport, Greenock.

IMO 6823143
Built 1968 Blohn & Voss, Germany
17,823 gt
736 TEU
Scrapped 1995

Scanned Print, undated

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional British cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

Reardon Smith Line was founded by Sir William Reardon Smith in about 1905, making early trade in the export of coal from South Wales ports, with 39 ships by 1922. Shipowning had ceased by about 1985.

The funnel was red with a black 'S' and black top.

Ships had names with the 'City' suffix. (My great uncle had sailed on 'Paris City' in the 1920s, a photo of this is uploaded elsewhere).

'Leeds City' was a capable post-war general cargo ship, sold in 1967 to Greek Interests.

IMO 5205382
Built 1955 Doxford, Sunderland
8,140 gt
Scrapped 1985

Scanned Print, undated

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional British cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

Manchester Liners was established in 1898, trading on transatlantic and southern Europe routes into Manchester via the Manchester Ship Canal. They ceased operations in 1985, partly due to the challenge of containerisation and the larger ships required.

The funnel was red with a black band and black top. Hull was black or red.

Ships were named with the prefix 'Manchester'.

'Manchester Concept' began life as the general cargo ship 'Manchester Progress', but the writing was on the wall for general cargo ships, and within 4 years of build (1971) she was converted into an early and not very pretty container ship, and renamed.

IMO 6620163
Built 1967 Smith's Dock, Teesside
11,228 gt
936 TEU
Scrapped 1985

Scanned Print, undated

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional British cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

Blue Star Line was founded by the Vestey Brothers in 1911, in particular for running meat in refrigerated ships from South America to the UK, gradually diversifying into other global markets. This continued through both world wars until the company was bought by P&O Nedlloyd in 1998 and ceased to exist.

The funnel was particularly distinctive, orange with a blue star in a white circle, white and black bands and black top. Hulls were black or later grey.

Ships names initially carried the prefix 'Brod', e.g. 'Brodfield', 'Brodholme', the 'Star' suffix commenced from 1919.

'Argentina Star' was replacement tonnage for WW2 losses, one of 4 sister ships, Refrigerated Cargo Ships with substantial accommodation for 53 / 68 passengers.

IMO 5023227
Built 1947 Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
10,716 gt
Scrapped 1972

Scanned Print, undated

Back in the early 1980s, or late 1970s, I purchased a number of black and white prints, primarily of traditional British cargo liners. There is no description on them other than the ship's name.

Stephenson Clarke Shipping Limited, established in 1730, claims to be Great Britain's oldest shipping company, specialising in short sea bulk and aggregate traffic, and particularly coal traffic, traditionally from the north east coast.

The funnel was usually black with a silver band, excepting the various fleets managed by Stephenson Clarke on behalf of other companies.

Ships were mostly named after places in Sussex.

'Ashington' was a small coal-carrying bulk carrier. She had a Walker Wingsail fitted in 1987 to attempt to reduce fuel consumption (not seen here), which, while demonstrating some savings, was not regarded as a commercial success.

IMO 7717200
Built 1979 Clelands, Willington Quay, Tyneside
6,474t dwt
Scrapped 2012

Scanned Print, undated

Vehicle Carrier built in 2025. Sailing under the flag of Liberia.

IMO 9994113, MMSI 636023590

Seen on Southampton Water from Calshot Spit

Vehicle Carrier built in 2025. Sailing under the flag of Liberia.

IMO 9994113, MMSI 636023590

Seen on Southampton Water from Calshot Spit