Clyde Puffer

The Clyde buffer is an inland and coastal water type the Scottish west coast. It was built from about 1850 until the early 1950s.

Description

The Clyde buffer is a small inland and coastal cargo ship type which was initially eventually used on Scottish canals, and later in the estuaries of the Forth and Clyde and all along the west coast of Scotland to the Hebrides. The crew of the smaller buffer consisted of the captain and three that of the larger of four sailors. The crew lived in a lodging under the jaw, the captain had a small living room in the stern. Before the single large cargo space was a single mast with derrick for cargo handling. Aft of the chimney and behind the helm were placed behind the hatch first. It was not until the first decade of 1900 the closed wheelhouse was introduced. Early Clyde buffers were driven by simple steam engine without a capacitor, the typical sound of the rhythmic steam venting helped the ship type to its name. Were organized later Clyde buffer capacitors and even later in some cases even diesel engines, both of which did not make the typical steam noise, the name stuck but the type.

History

The type of ship of Clyde buffer emerged from about 1850 as a purely domestic cargo ship. The dimensions of these vehicles were therefore limited by the gate sizes of the Forth Clyde canal to a length of 20.30 meters and a width of 5.54 meters.

During the development of the design of the ships was extended to the so-called Shorehead type to insert it into the mouth regions of the Forth and the Clyde. Approximately 1900 came an evolved outside- type in use, which was also suitable for trips across the lake and was used in the coastal voyage to the Hebrides. A larger freeboard made ​​these ships seaworthy. Also, most of these ships were initially at the channel- standard dimensions, but individual measured up to 26.60 meters in length.

Approximately during the period between the two world wars, the number of vessels used continuously declines as the land transport routes have been expanded more and more, while the power required to operate the ships coal is just as steadily more expensive as the maintenance and personnel costs. Nevertheless, until the 1930s, more real buffer were built.

During the Second World War did not result in the type of ship new tasks such as fleet supply, which prompted government, the construction of the so-called Victualling Inshore Craft ( VIC ) to order. Basis of the VIC - design were the lines of the 1939 vessels built Anxac and Lascar. In the years from 1941 to 1946 arose so again over a hundred VIC Clyde buffer. Until the VIC 49, all ships were 20.50 meters long, then you also built 29,60 meters long VIC 's.

Today

A number of buffers Clyde remained to this day. The oldest existing buffer is probably the Basuto, built in 1902 of the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port. Even more vessels are obtained as a portfolio of other museums. Some other of the ships are still in service and are now partly used for tourist rides.