Erskine Bridge News

A port operator has today (Monday 29 September) pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches, following the deaths of three crew members of a tug which capsized on the River Clyde in 2007. Clydeport Operations Ltd, who were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh, received fines totalling £650,000. In December 2007 the Flying Phantom was one of three tugs assisting the 70,000-tonne cargo ship Red Jasmine as it made its way along the River Clyde. As they approached the Erskine Bridge, the Flying Phantom was secured to the bow of the Red Jasmine, which was transporting animal feed. Just before 6pm, in thick fog, the Flying Phantom called the ship to say they had grounded and the pilot instructed the tug to let go the line. That was the last communication.

The largest section of future carrier 'HMS Queen Elizabeth' is now complete & embarks on 1,230 mile barge trip. This gigantic segment - officially known as Lower Block 04 and weighing 11,300 tonnes - was towed on a barge down the Clyde on Sunday to begin a 1,230-nautical-mile (2,278km) journey around the south of England to Rosyth. Originally the shorter route around the north of Scotland had been planned. However, bad weather in the north of the UK forced reconsideration and the route was changed to around the south of England and up to Rosyth through the North Sea.