King George V Dock, Glasgow facts for kids

View of the docks at the River Clyde

The King George V Dock is a very important dock for big ships in Glasgow, Scotland. It's located in an area called Shieldhall in Govan, right on the edge of the council areas of Renfrewshire and the City of Glasgow. This dock is managed by the Clyde Port Authority, which looks after the port.

What is the King George V Dock?

The King George V Dock is a large, open area of water where big ships can load and unload goods. It's like a special parking spot for ocean-going vessels, which are ships that travel across seas and oceans.

Where is it located?

You can find the dock in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It's close to a place called Braehead in Renfrewshire. The dock sits right on the border between the areas of Renfrewshire and the City of Glasgow.

Why was it built?

This dock first opened in 1931. It was built because ships were getting much bigger, and the River Clyde needed a special place to handle them. The dock was named after King George V, who was the king at that time. It's the biggest dock on the upper part of the River Clyde and the only one still working within Glasgow's city limits.

What happens there today?

Today, the King George V Dock is very busy. It handles many different types of "dry bulk cargoes." This means it deals with things like animal feed, grains (such as wheat or corn), chemicals, and large pieces of industrial equipment. It's easy to move these goods from the dock to the M8 motorway (a big road) or onto the national train network. This is possible because the dock is connected to parts of old railway lines, like the Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway and the Inverclyde Line.