Shieldhall - At sea off Isle of Wight -  September 1991

Photo from The Don Smith Collection.

SHIELDHALL At sea off the Isle -of - Wight - 31.9.1991 Don Smith Collection Notes:- SS SHIELDHALL was built for Glasgow Corporation as a sludge disposal vessel replacing an older namesake. She spent her working days moving treated sewage sludge from Shieldhall and Dalmuir down the River Clyde for disposal in the deeper waters around Garroch Head. These vessels had a long tradition of passenger carrying going back to the First World War when they used to take soldiers convalescing from their injuries on their runs to sea. Since that time all the ships, including SHIELDHALL, were fitted with comfortable accommodation and trips were provided mainly for disadvantaged people who otherwise would not have experienced a trip in a pleasure steamer. They were kept spotlessly clean with no trace of their humble task. SHIELDHALL was built on classic lines with a riveted and welded construction, a straight stem, cruiser stern and a traditional wheelhouse. She is fitted with two Scotch Boilers providing saturated steam to two triple expansion engines driving twin screws. Normal operating speed was 9 knots with a maximum of 13 knots. She entered service in 1955 and operated on the Clyde until 1976 when she was replaced by the motorship SS GARROCH HEAD and laid up. In 1977 she was purchased by Southern Water Authority to carry sludge from Southampton for disposal in an area south of the Isle of Wight. In 1985, the rising cost of fuel made her uneconomical to run and she was withdrawn from service and again laid up. As a result of an initiative by the Southampton City Museum, a preservation society, The Solent Steam Packet Ltd, was formed and, in 1988, SHIELDHALL was purchased for £20K. All work on the ship was carried out by unpaid volunteers and much has been done to bring her up to and keep her in seagoing condition.