ss SHIELDHALL Seen here in her final days on the Clyde (photo Tom Carreyette)

There can be few ships that sound as unattractive and as unwelcome as a sludge vessel. More so if you realise the term 'sludge' is a euphemism for human sewage!

But on the Clyde, that hasn't been the case since Glasgow Corporation first fitted out its sewage ships to take the poor, disadvantaged and other members of society on trips 'doon the watter'

Sadly those days are gone, the last of these vessels to operate on the Clyde, the DALMARNOCK and GARROCH HEAD, were withdrawn in the 'nineties as a result of EU directives on disposal of waste at sea.

Everyone around the Clyde knew the sludge vessels (although, that term was rarely used - a much more robust, and decidedly Clydeside title was used!) as they daily sailed up and down the river and firth, from Shieldhall and Dalmuir, to empty their 'cargo' into the deeper waters around Garroch Head. When people talked of the Clyde, so ubiquitous were they, that people would often say 'all you see on the Clyde these days is the **** boats'

This was of course untrue, but the decline in river traffic made these vessels all the more visible.

No trace of their humble task was ever seen. They were always spotlessly clean, and their saloons boasted all the comforts of an excursion steamer. If you got tickets to have a sail, you were very fortunate indeed.

Steam engines in ss SHIELDHALL (photo Charles McCrossan)

In 1955 Glasgow Corporation were delivered to them a new sludge vessel, the ss SHIELDHALL. Built along traditional lines, she was an imposing and somehow graceful ship. Launched at the famous yard of Lobnitz in Renfrew on 7th July 1955 she replaced the 1910 vessel who would be scrapped that year at Port Glasgow.

For the next 22 years she made her stately progress, passing the great shipyards and other, more glamourous vessels, heading out into the beautiful Firth of Clyde, carrying joyful Glaswegians, many of whom could not have otherwise afforded a trip on the pleasure steamers.

She was replaced in 1977 by a motorship, the GARROCH HEAD, and you would think that would be the end of the story. However, her life was not over yet.

She went to Southampton for the Southern Water Authority in 1977 and performed her duties there until 1985 when she was withdrawn. Rising fuel prices were making her rather expensive to run. In 1988 she was purchased by an organisation set up to preserve her, The Solent Steam Packet Limited. From then on faithful volunteers have worked hard to keep her operational, running cruises in the Solent on summer months.

This year, her 50th, sees her make a momentous return to the river of her birth, and no doubt for many who remember her here, an emotional one.

She will perfom a number of cruises as well as taking part in the Glasgow River Festival and will meet up with another Clydebuilt steam veteran, the 1947 paddle steamer WAVERLEY.

It will be a remarkable sight to see these two elderly steam powered ships meet up in home waters, and doubtless, long and loud will their steam whistles blow!

And may they do so for many, many years to come yet.

ss SHIELDHALL as she is today (photo: Frederick Brooks)