Waverley Leaves Dry Dock
Waverley, her fresh paintwork gleaming in the sunshine, left Garvel Dry Dock at high tide today. Clyde Marine tugs Biter and Beaver Bay skilfully eased her out of the Greenock dock just after 1.15pm. After a brief call at Custom House Quay Waverley turned upstream for Pacific Quay, arriving just before 5pm.
And she’s out.
Easy does it. The exit from Garvel is awkward and requires the ship be drawn parallel with the quayside.
The cantilever crane at James Watt Dock is one of the four remaining Titans on the River Clyde.
Edward Waverley has swapped his red coat of last year for a blue one. He’s also wearing considerably less lip gloss.
Biter swings Waverley around for the short trip to Custom House Quay.
Heading for Custom House Quay. In the background the 113,500-tonne Ruby Princess is making her first ever call at Greenock Cruise Terminal.
Meanwhile SD Moorfowl, Waverley’s docking partner for the past two weeks, slips quietly out of the dock.
Shortly before 5pm Waverley passes the Riverside Museum on her approach to Pacific Quay.
The first line is thrown ashore.
The quality of the paintwork can be evidenced in this photograph.
With the capstan currently out of use, plus a healthy breeze, berthing took slightly longer than usual but was skillfully accomplished by Captain O’Brian and his crew.