RHINO

Ship No 523

The order for the Mini-Bulk Carrier was a strange but very welcome order in the yard of Robb Caledon at the time.

The yard was only contracted to build the ship up to her main deck level, and she was then to be towed to Bergen in Norway and her super structure would be constructed and fitted there. This was due to the closure of the original shipyard in Wales that had won the order to build her.

Her owners were a company called Paal Wilson and at 1445 grt, she was very welcome work at a tough time for shipbuilders in the U.K.

She was 66 metres between perpendiculars, with a beam of 13.4 metres and a design draught of 6.5 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 10th April 1978.

We hope to be able to bring you more about this ship and all the ships built in the Leith Shipyards, very soon on the new website.

CLAYMORE

CLAYMORE - Ship No 522

Ship No 522

The motor vessel CLAYMORE was an order from Caledonian Macbrayne for a Passenger Vehicle Ferry.

She was to operate from the Scottish mainland to the many out lying Scottish Islands, and she was another ship that was to become a firm favourite of many passengers.

At 1871 grt, she had a length between perpendiculars of 70 metres, with a beam of 15.5 metres and a design draught of 4.8 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 31st August 1978

Another fine Leith built ship that you will able to read more of on the new website.

BORTHWICK

(LPG Tanker) BORTHWICK

Ship No 521

The Motor Vessel BORTHWICK was an order from the old local shipping company of George Gibson’s.

The order was for a Liquid Petroleum Gas Tanker of 1569 grt, she had a length between perpendiculars of 73.2 metres with a beam of 12.8 metres with a design draught of 6 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on the 28th of September 1977.

She had a long career and was re-named a couple of times, all of which you can see more of on the new website to go onto the internet very soon.

GARRISON POINT

GARRISON POINT re-named JEVINGTON (Ship No 520)

Ship No 520

Largest vessel built in the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon Ltd. She was a Bulk Carrier ordered by the Hudson Steamship Company.

At 7702 grt, she was the biggest ship launched from the Leith Shipyards of the then called Robb Caledon shipbuilders. (although the RFA ENGADINE was a bit longer in length.)

She had a length between perpendiculars of 120 metres, with a beam of 19.5 metres and a design draught of 11.5 metres.

GARRISON POINT was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 12th January 1977.

She had a few different names through her working life and you will see a lot more about this ship on the new website coming soon.

FLYING CHILDERS

Ship No 519

Was the third of the three ship order for Harbour Tugs. FLYING CHILDERS being ordered for the Clyde Shipping Company this time, and the difference between her and her two sister ships was the fact that CHILDERS had no fire fighting capability.

FLYING CHILDERS at 336 grt, had a length between perpendiculars of 34 metres, with a beam of 9.2 metres, along with a design draught of 4,5 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 21st of May 1976.

She had a somewhat chequered career which you will be able to read all about on the new website which should be online by next weekend.

BOQUHAN

Ship No 518

Was the second of the three ship order for Harbour Tugs with fire fighting capability, with only small differences between the vessels, the three ships all being the same size.

The first two were from an order by the Grangemouth and Forth Towing Company, for work in the Firth of Forth at the new terminal for offloading oil which was called the Hound Point Terminal (A construction incidentally also built by the Robb Caledon yard)

She was named after a village near Stirling at the head of the River Forth.

BOQUHAN at 336 grt, had a length between perpendiculars of 34 metres, with a beam of 9.2 metres, along with a design draught of 4,5 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 7th of January 1976.

BOQUHAN unlike her sister ship the DUCHRAY is believed to be still working in West Africa.

You will be able to see photographs of her and read a lot more about this fine vessel on the new website, online very soon.

Restoration of the SCOT II



The icebreaker tug SCOTT II, or what is left of her.

Happy to be able to tell you all that it now looks like Ship No 184 SCOT II built in the Henry Robb Leith Shipyards in 1931 and rusting away for a number of years in the West of Scotland, is now on the way to being restored to her former glory.

This is going to be a long project, and we shall bring you updates on the progress of the restoration as and when.

SCOT II begins her journey back home last week.
 

So for now just consider what she looks like as a rusty hull and look at what she will be restored as an icebreaker tug.

She is now tied up at the quayside on the Caledonian Canal after her tow north from the Isle of Bute. SCOT II was a very well known sight on the canal for many years.

 The SCOT II as she was cruising the waters of the Caledonian Canal.

You will be able to follow her restoration progress on the new website, online soon.

DUCHRAY

Ship No 517

Was the first of a three ship order for Harbour Tugs, with only small differences between the vessels, the three ships all being the same size.

The first two were from an order by the Grangemouth and Forth Towing Company, for work in the Firth of Forth at the new terminal for offloading oil which was called the Hound Point Terminal (A construction incidentally also built by the Robb Caledon yard)

Named after a head of water that is the main source of the River Forth.

DUCHRAY at 330 grt, had a length between perpendiculars of 34 metres, with a beam of 9.2 metres, along with a design draught of 4,5 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 31st of October 1975.

DUCHRAY was sold on to a Norwegian towing company and is still working.

You will be able to see photographs of her and read a lot more about this fine vessel on the new website.

S.A.WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE

WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE
Ship No 516
The Daddy of them all when it came to powerful mighty tugs working the world’s oceans.

The “Z” Tug S.A.WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE was a real thoroughbred and she looked like the ship that she was, unlike today’s even more powerful square and squat looking tugs.

She was a sister ship to one that was built in South Africa and launched a bit later than the WOLTEMADE.

The order for this ship was from Safmarine who where contracted to set up two powerful ocean going salvage tugs to be stationed off the coast of South Africa ready for any emergency at a time when the worlds oil had to be routed around the Horn of Africa due to the Suez Canal being closed to ships.

She was 2822 gross tonnes, with a length between perpendiculars of 85 metres, with a beam of 15.2 metres, and a design draught of 8.6 metres.

She was launched from the Leith Shipyards of Robb Caledon on 23rd of April 1976.

She was to drop the S.A. part of her name when Safmarine were taken over by Smit’s.

You will soon be able to read all about this mighty vessel on the new website, which will be online soon.

If you are looking for books on ships and the sea then look no further.