[BITList] Fwd: The Race To Dig Deeper Ports For Bigger Cargo Ships: NPR

[HUGH]

Mike,

Up to the late 1600s Glasgow had traded with the world via a (very poor) 
road link from the old hamlet of Newark here, and very shallow draught 
vessels from here upriver. The 20 mile journey upriver could take a couple 
of days.  In the late 1600s they fell out with Maxwell here (or vice versa), 
and, after having a go at Dumbarton, Irvine and Greenock for port facilities 
(Dumbarton had its own channel up to it), they struck a deal with Maxwell 
Junior (Senior having shuffled off) for so many acres from the low tide 
mark, etc, and created the Newport of Glasgow which became Port Glasgow. 
There followed a series of hydraulic works and dredging and blasting of 
rocks, to keep pace with the increases in draught.  So, plus ca change .... 
except that the mudflats along the banks of the Clyde from about Renfrew 
down (exposed at low tides) have been designated Sites of Special Scientific 
Interest. I can't say if it also applies to the sandbanks.



Hugh.