Clydefast Ltd with the support of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Glasgow City Council and Riverside Inverclyde carried out trials on the Clyde from 10th – 13th March 2008 using a Griffon 2000TD 12 seat hovercraft.  The trial demonstrated to the port authority that the wash created by hovercraft was almost nil. There was no impact on either the river banks or quayside walls.

The hovercraft, registered as Griffon 083, was based on the slipway at Ferguson's Shipyard in Port Glasgow. Initial trials upriver towards the SECC in Glasgow were carried out on Friday 7th March with a Clydeport Pilot on board; the Deputy Harbourmaster also sailed up river on the craft on 13^th March. The hovercraft's commander Captain Robert Trussler demonstrated the operational agility of the hovercraft and the minimal wash that the craft creates at speeds of up to 30 knots. 

A series of demonstration trips took place carrying local council officials, SPT and River bodies and authorities.  The wind conditions curtailed the number of trips but the hovercraft was able to make two crossings to Dunoon and land on the area of sand west of the old Coal Pier.  The journey from East India Harbour Greenock to Dunoon took 15 minutes and from the SECC pontoon in Glasgow to Greenock took 37 minutes.

There was considerable media coverage of the trials on TV, radio and national and local newspapers which featured the advantages of a hovercraft service. The veteran hovercraft Captain Bill Cumming who operated the original hovercraft service on the Clyde over 40 years ago came on board the Griffon craft at the press launch on 10^th March.

Clydefast Ltd would like to express sincere thanks to all those who supported the trial. It is hoped that a return visit of the hovercraft can be arranged for the Clyde River festival on 19 and 20 July when trips will be arranged for the general public during the event.  This will be a forerunner to a permanent commercial service which would be operated by two 100 to 130 capacity hovercraft from Glasgow to Dunoon and Rothesay.  It is planned to introduce the service within 2 years.