Keeping Shipshape

Before restoration could begin, the team conducted thorough assessments of Glenlee’s condition, identifying areas requiring urgent attention.

The cargo hold was the first area to undergo major work. After lifting the deck planks, the team removed loose ballast, with each block weighing an impressive 60kg. Following this, the gabions, which weighed approximately 500kg each, were carefully extracted.

A key part of this phase involved dismantling the starboard water ballast tank to gain access to the structure below. This process was carried out in sections, with the base of the tank eventually removed from the ship. The port water ballast tank will be craned out intact so it can be reinstated after the work is completed.

The restoration team focused on remedial steel-work on the port side vertical floor, where corroded flanges of riveted angle bars were removed and replaced with new flat bars to restore strength and integrity. Thermal checking was also conducted during welding to monitor heat input and ensure the work adhered to high standards.

This first phase marks an important step in Glenlee’s long-term conservation. By addressing these structural concerns now, we ensure that this historic vessel remains a vital part of Glasgow’s maritime heritage for future generations. Stay tuned for further updates as work progresses!

Steelwork in this area had deteriorated over time, requiring sections to be cut away and replaced.

As part of this process, we also worked on the port-side tank, lifting it from a horizontal to a vertical position before moving it off the ship for further work. This complex operation involved cutting the tank into two sections to facilitate safe removal and allowing access to the steelwork below.

With the old steel removed, we turned our attention to descaling the vertical floors in the ballast tank area—a crucial step before installing new steel. The prepared steel was then subjected to Ultrasonic Thickness Measurements, ensuring that each new section met the necessary strength and safety standards.

From frames 87 to 93, our team has been hard at work welding new steelwork inserts. Each weld is a vital step in restoring Glenlee’s integrity, reinforcing her structure so she can continue to stand strong against the elements.

Stay tuned for more updates on our conservation efforts! This restoration work is a reminder of the dedication it takes to maintain a historic ship. As we move forward, each repair brings us closer to ensuring that Glenlee remains a living, breathing piece of maritime history for years to come.

Following ultrasonic thickness checks, several sections of steel within the vertical floors were found to have less than 70% of their original thickness. These compromised areas were carefully removed, and new inserts are being welded into place to restore strength and stability.

The team has been focusing on the area between frames 87 and 93, where steelwork replacement is ongoing, and has now expanded into frames 52 to 57, addressing repairs to the side keelson as well.

A major step in the process has been shotblasting—an essential method to strip away paint and corrosion, exposing any hidden defects. This has allowed us to identify and cut out additional weakened sections, ensuring no issue goes unseen.

Each new weld and insert brings us closer to securing Glenlee’s future. This stage of the project highlights the importance of detail-oriented conservation and the unseen labour that keeps a historic ship like Glenlee seaworthy—if not literally, then in spirit.