Fishing Boats of Campbeltown Shipyard

Book excerpt: The boatbuilding industry has always had its ups and downs, reflecting the changing fortunes of the fishing industry. Campbeltown Shipyard diversified its boatbuilding activities in order to survive but competition from foreign yards moved into a new dimension from the mid-1990s onwards. In addition, decommissioning, restricted days at sea, and shrinking quotas have left the Scottish fleet a shadow of its former self. However, by the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, things were beginning to look up for the remaining vessels, including several survivors of the boats built by Campbeltown Shipyard. Today the empty buildings which once comprised the shipyard betray no trace of the hive of activity which once existed there and produced some of the most successful fishing vessels ever built in Scotland, yet with former boats still turning impressive performances, the fishing industry will long remember the fishing boats of Campbeltown Shipyard.