SPECIAL trips are being offered to one of the Clyde's most famous shipwrecks on what will be the 50th anniversary of its sinking.
MV Captayannis, known colloquially as the Sugar Boat due to the cargo it was carrying, has been lying partially submerged in the waters between Inverclyde and Helensburgh for half a century.
The Greek vessel met its fate on the night of January 27, 1974, when it succumbed to fierce winds from a violent storm.
And interested sightseers can get a closer look at what is left of the wreck by joining the Clyde Charters trip from Greenock next Saturday - 50 years to the day since the vessel was lost.
The event listing states: "The ship collided with the anchor chains of a BP oil tanker ripping a hole in the hull of the Captayannis.
"As the water flooded in, the captain had to think quickly, he took evasive action and decided to head for a nearby sandbar.
READ MORE: Drone footage of sunken Clyde 'sugar boat' MV Captayannis
"His actions saved his 30-strong crew, as the ship listed on its port side, the crew were able to jump onto the deck of one of the rescue boats.
"The following morning, as the tide receded, the Captayannis keeled over on its side, never to sail again."
Tickets, priced at £17.95, are still available for the two morning tours and one early afternoon trip, setting off from James Watt Dock Marina.
The listing adds: "Over the decades, looters have stripped the vessel of its most valuable fittings, but the ship remains stubbornly intact.
"Despite the passage of time, the deck is still largely intact and is a haven for fish and seabirds that have colonised its empty hatches.
"We hope you will be able to share in the history of one of the River Clyde's most famous shipwrecks."
The ship has been a feature of the view over the Clyde from Helensburgh ever since - and even gave its name to the award-winning restaurant in Colquhoun Square that's been a favourite of the town's 'eating out' scene since May 2017.
Local firm You and Sea, based at Rhu Marina, began offering sightseeing cruises to the wreck in April 2022.
For more information about next Saturday's Greenock tours, visit clydecharters.com.
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