Historic Scottish sailing ship Falls of Clyde to return home

A Clyde-built ship is to return home after years spent as a visitor attraction in Hawaii. The Falls of Clyde is the last surviving iron-hulled, four-masted full-rigged ship, and the only remaining sail-driven oil tanker. Built in 1878 by Russell and Company in Port Glasgow, the Falls of Clyde is currently moored in Honolulu harbour, but over recent years her condition has deteriorated. The Falls of Clyde transported sugar from Hawaii to America’s west coast during the early part of her life before being converted into a bulk oil tanker. 

A group, Save Falls of Clyde, has been campaigning to bring her back to Scotland. They now say that an agreement has been reached with a Dutch company to collect the ship in February next year. The plan is to restore the Falls of Clyde, which was named after a series of waterfalls in Lanarkshire, and use her as an education and training vessel. Falls of Clyde is expected to arrive back in the Clyde in April to a huge welcome. It is hoped a mooring can be secured in Greenock near to where it was built.