Major routes

Liverpool - Waterford (Ireland)

Coastal service between UK and Irish ports (including Glasgow, London, Belfast, Cork, Plymouth, Southampton)

Ship colours

Company ship

Black hull, black funnel.

Timeline

1815	Scottish paddle steamers `Industry` and `Trusty` purchased by the new company, making it one of the first steamboat companies in the UK
1841	A new railway line between Glasgow and Greenock on the west Scottish coast opens, taking away some of the company`s trade
1856	The company is put up for sale. It is bought by George Kidston, who launches the first coastwise service beween Waterford, Cork (Ireland) and Glasgow
1860	A coaster service is developed. New coaster `Tuskan` is the first of the company`s new tugs to be named after a lighthouse or lightship - a practise that continued for over a century
1872	A regular cargo service from Ireland to Plymouth, Southampton and London starts
1880	The company goes through an expansion phase, buying up many competing towage firms operating around Glasgow and the River Clyde
1884	The company begins direct sailings into London`s St Katherine`s Dock
1888	Clyde Shipping`s first tramping operation starts, using the vessel Ailsacraig
1916	Easter Rising in Ireland. The company`s vessel Rathlin is ambushed by rioters in Waterford
1930s	An improved trunk road between Glasgow and the west coast at Greenock takes away some of the company`s trade. Their moorings at Greenock are closed. The business survives the Glasgow economic recession by taking advantage of cheap prices to buy more boats
1945	At the end of World War 2, Clyde Shipping`s sailings diminish because of the scarcity of coal. Sailings to Plymouth and Southampton are not resumed
1974	The company`s Irish interests sold to Mainport Holdings. The rest of the company later forms part of Clyde Marine Group.

Fact file

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