Heritage ship to run excursion (From Falmouth Packet)

Heritage ship to run excursion

10:25am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in In Port By David Barnicoat

What I like about my job is the diverse range of ships encountered on a daily basis coupled with meeting interesting people.

Standing on the bridge of the multi-million pound super yacht Leander talking with her senior officers saw me in the world of the rich and famous. Less than 12 hours later I boarded the former sludge vessel Sheildhall in the bay.

The Shieldhall is a heritage ship included in the National Historic Fleet and is generally recognised to be the largest working steamship of her type in Britain and probably Europe.

Shieldhall was operated by Glasgow Corporation to transport treated sewage sludge down the river Clyde to be dumped at sea. She continued a tradition, dating back to the First World War, that Glasgow’s sludge vessels carried organised parties of passengers when operating during the summer months. Thus Shieldhall was built with accommodation for 80 passengers.

Shieldhall was laid down in October 1954, launched July 7, 1955 and entered service in October of that year. Built by Lobnitz & Co, of Renfrew, she is of special interest as she was built on older classic lines with a traditional wheelhouse, of riveted and welded construction with a straight stem and a cruiser stern.

This interesting vessel will be running an excursion in Southampton on June 5 when all three Cunard cruise ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will be in the port together for the first time. In July she is fully booked to view the departure of seven P&O cruiseships as they mark the 175th anniversary of the P&O Company.