All roads lead to the Port.

 

“Some histories refuse to stay buried.”

“Every shipyard has its ghosts.”

Look out for some exiting news to arrive about my latest book release.

We will be beside one of the biggest tourist attractions in Scotland.

More will be revealed in time, so keep looking in to find out more.

Worth a Thousand words

 As they say a picture is worth a Thousand words, and even the cranes in the distance were crossed in a Saltire.

New Ships Photo Gallery

Ships Photo Gallery

As many of us struggle with this threat to life of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) we at the Loftsman website have decided to do our little bit to help.

Starting today we shall endeavour to create a huge ships photo library as we are aware that a great many people out there find this very interesting. You may have someone who sailed or worked on one of the many vessels, you may even find this part of the website of interest should you be researching a family tree.

From classic old ships such as shown below

http://www.theloftsman.com/ship-photo-s

The library will take time to build up but it is intended that we should have as many pictures of vessels on this part of the site that we can manage to upload. They are doing no good being hoarded or hidden away when many could enjoy seeing them at this very difficult time for us all.

So as you browse through the galleries please stay home and keep safe.

You can access the ship photo page at https://www.theloftsman.com/ship-photo-s

Many types of ship will be added with some categories in a general way while some are put on the gallery in no particular order and under no particular heading.

You will just have to look through the many galleries to find what you are looking for. Over time we hope to be able to add details such as builder and size etc, but again this will take time, so keep checking back. If you think you could help by adding your own photographs to the site them please contact Ron@theloftsman.com

Both old and new ships will be added over time.

http://www.theloftsman.com/ship-photo-s

Many ships photographs will grow this library of ships for your research and enjoyment, we hope you will help us by sending in your own photographs to make this into one of the largest ships libraries on the internet, a tall order but with help it can and will be done.

They Once Were Shipbuilders

Well at long last the first in the series of books on Ships built at Leith is now ready for pre-ordering.

The details of the book can be found at the publisher’s website as follows-

http://www.whittlespublishing.com/They_Once_Were_Shipbuilders You’ll see that the book is now available to order and that it’s available at a special pre-publication price of £14.99 which will run until 20th September.

Or the book can now be pre-ordered at Amazon by following the link shown below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/They-Once-Were-Shipbuilders-Leith-Built/dp/1849954437/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=They+Once+Were+Shipbuilders&qid=1567599695&s=books&sr=1-1

HMS. HESPERIA

Ship No 329




“Bustler Class” Rescue Tug.

"Bustler Class Tug"

Was an order for the supply of Ocean Going Diesel salvage tugs, all of the “Bustler Class” With Hesperia being the fourth of the class built by Henry Robb in Leith.

They were required to carry out salvage and rescue work along with convoy escort duties.

We have a wonderful new book out now all about the mighty tugs built at Leith.

They were large and very powerful tugs put to good use during World War II and for long after as well. A fleet of the “Bustler class tugs along with others were stationed in Campbeltown on the Scottish coast during the long “Battle of the Atlantic”

Nicknamed the “Campbeltown Navy” they were instrumental in saving many thousands of tons of shipping badly needed for the war effort against Hitler’s Germany and they also saved countless seamen from the ravages of the U-Boats.

She was 1,100 tons with a length overall of 190 feet and beam of 38 feet and six inches, with a draught of 19 feet.

Laid down 25 Mar 1942

Launched 10 Nov 1942

Commissioned 21 May 1943

Hesperia was lost off the coast of Libya during a fierce storm while working on towing a large load, on 9th of February 1945..