SS Shieldhall

SS Shieldhall is a preserved steamship that operates from Southampton. She spent her working life as one of the "Clyde sludge boats", making regular trips from Shieldhall in Glasgow, Scotland, down the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde past the Isle of Arran, to dump treated sewage sludge at sea. These steamships had a tradition, dating back to the First World War, of taking organised parties of passengers on their trips during the summer. SS Shieldhall has been preserved and the accommodation is again being put to good use for cruises.

History

The 1,972-ton Shieldhall was laid down in October 1954, built by Lobnitz & Co. of Renfrew who also constructed the two triple expansion steam engines which are set vertically in a similar way to the much larger engines on the RMS Titanic. By the 1950s Lobnitz usually built its engines with enclosed crankcases but the Shieldhall was deliberately fitted with traditional open-crank engines. Glasgow Corporation had long allowed day-trippers access to the engine room of its ships while at sea and the older-style engines allowed passengers to see the workings of the engines in operation.

Shieldhall

Shieldhall is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde.

Shieldhall lies between Renfrew and Drumoyne and is close to Braehead. It includes the site of the King George V Dock and Shieldhall sewage treatment works, which are owned by Scottish Water. The sewage works originally opened in 1910 and were rebuilt in 1980. It is one of three such facilities in the city, along with Dalmarnock and Daldowie.

Coordinates: 55°52′N 4°22′W / 55.867°N 4.367°W / 55.867; -4.367