Greenock, Portal of the Clyde Quotes

“The town and harbour of Greenock occupy a sheltered site, set amid surroundings of great natural beauty, at a point of strategic value which may justly be described as the Portal of the Clyde. For here the artificially deepened shipping channel of the river, flanked for miles down stream from Glasgow's docks by wide mudbanks and shoals, gives place to deep water at the famous "Tail of the Bank" of sailing men; the "Clyde Anchorage" of their war-time successors.

Here, too, the fairway flows close to the shore under the lee of a great promontory which affords shelter from the prevailing south-wet winds.

Thus Greenock, blessed as are few other ports by the twin assets of deep water and protection from storm, has taken high rank among them since the period when our overseas trade was first being built up.”
― Frank Mears, Greenock, Portal of the Clyde: An Outline Plan for Redevelopment