The 6th ship due for Loch Striven might be the Crude Oil Tanker, Maersk Rapier, currently at anchor east of Brodick Bay on Arran. Her destination is given as Loch Striven, with an ETA of 10.00 on 15th August, obviously an ETA for the approaches. The Maersk Boston, which has been at anchor south of Rothesay Bay will have been waiting for her arrival so that both ships will come into Loch Striven together. Logic, not expertise, indicates that adding 2 ships to a raft keeps the alternate fore and aft anchoring arrangements balanced – but there are industry experts following this story who will know.

(21.45) A follower of this rolling story has now suggested that Maersk Rapier may, as a Crude Oil Tanker, be waiting to go in to the Nato jetty at the entrance to Loch Striven. The Fleet Support Tanker, Orangeleaf, is at the jetty at the moment so this her most likely purpose. Since Maesk Rapier appeared off Brodick Bay and we reported on its presence, prompted by its destination of LOch Striven – which is evocative at the moment, we have got information on her from Clydesights:

’34,985 tonne tanker, built in 2000 as ROBERT MAERSK but given her new name shortly after delivery, is operated on behalf of Maersk by Handytankers K/S. She remains on charter to the MoD’. And she does supply oil to the Nato jetty.