A day in the life of ...a ship builder

David Fleetwood looks at another of the country's traditional occupations, from a time when the Scotland was the greatest nation of ship builders in the world.

The cranes tower over the tenements at a dizzying height.

The ribs of the great ship slowly rise up out of the dock, dipping into the water at the far end of the hull. The noise and the sparks of the welders across the hull are a hint that work has already begun in the yard, even though it is not yet six in the morning.

Nowadays, the mighty shipyards of the River Clyde have reduced in numbers, yet some iconic names still remain, including Camel Laird. The River Clyde runs like an artery through Glasgow, and shipbuilding is a part of the city's soul.

The early morning alarm call no longer brings streams of men through the streets to work in the yards, but, for many, it still conjures up memories of what used to be.

The main influence on the Clyde's development was the emergence of steam ships in 1812, and the construction of the first ever seagoing steam-powered vessel in Europe, The Comet, in Port Glasgow. As a result, Glasgow's reputation as a shipbuilding city was confirmed, a status it retained until the outbreak of the First World War.

After the river was deepened in 1824 at Elderslie, the Clyde was able to accommodate the construction of some of the largest ships in the world. The reputation of Glasgow was further increased by the development of the compound engine by John Elder, and by 1860, more than 80 per cent of British shipping tonnage was built on the Clyde. By the early 20th century, the Clyde's shipyards were building some of the most iconic ships in the wo...

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• By : David Fleetwood
• In : Interview
• Issue : 44
• Page : 50
• Words : 1,427