Shipbuilding, on the River Clyde
The launch of the MV Glen Rosa, at Ferguson Marine shipyard, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, on 9 April 2024. ©Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert 2024, all rights reserved.
‘We name this ship…’ - As a Glasgow-based photographer I feel incredibly fortunate to live near the River Clyde, and from time to time have had the opportunity to experience dynamic ship launches in the last few remaining shipbuilding yards on the the Clyde. Where there used to be hundreds, now there are three. And the ship launches get ever rarer, the years between them more and more. See them when you can.
Last week I was fortunate to see one more launch on the Lower Clyde, one which some billed as possibly the last dynamic launch on that region of the river.
The launch of the MV Glen Rosa, at Ferguson Marine shipyard, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, on 9 April 2024. ©Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert 2024, all rights reserved.
It was as exciting as ever to get into Ferguson Marine shipyard, in Port Glasgow. The day was such a rich opportunity to witness the industry of the yards, the Clydebuilt expertise the yards are known for, and to be able to photograph in and around the naming of Hull 102 as the MV Glen Rosa, and then, with some short words, a siren alarm, and crack, to see it released and to glide down the slipway into the Clyde stern first. The men cheered, raised their hats, the crowds clapped.
These images join the portfolio of reportage photography I’ve built up over the years from inside Kvaerner yard, now BAE Systems, inside Yarrows and also Ferguson Marine on earlier occasions. My first ship launch was way back in the early 1990’s. You can via Shipbuilding on the River Clyde photographs here.
The colour photographs on this page, all come from the launch of the MV Glen Rosa, a Cal Mac ferry which will serve the island of Arran.
As ever all images are available as archival prints, printed on Hahnemuhle archival museum quality paper. Prints come signed and captioned on reverse in pencil.
The launch of the MV Glen Rosa, at Ferguson Marine shipyard, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, on 9 April 2024. ©Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert 2024, all rights reserved.
Have you ever seen a dynamic ship launch? Got memories of working in the yards of the Clyde? Do let me know, and sign up for my newsletter below to hear of any future exhibitions and publications of my Shipbuilding series. Many thanks.