First cruise ship to accommodate COP26 delegates docks on Clyde
The first of two cruise ships being used as accommodation for delegates at the COP26 summit has docked on the River Clyde.
Romantika, owned by Estonian company Tallink Grupp, will be berthed at the King George V dock for the duration of the conference next month.
Before the pandemic, it operated on the Riga-Stockholm route.
A second vessel, the MS Silja Europa, is expected to arrive in the coming days, after a "last minute agreement" was reached.
Up to 25,000 government representatives, media and campaigners are expected to stay in Glasgow.
Tallink Grupp’s CEO Paavo Nõgene said: "It is a great boost for the company and the employees, although of course it is also a huge challenge for us all in terms of the extremely short time we have for preparations and I know such last-minute agreements put our staff under extreme pressure for delivery.
“I think it is great testament to our vessels and, more importantly, to our crew and shore staff that we are able to secure contracts for such high profile and significant international events and we hope to make our home countries proud by making a vital contribution to the successful organisation and delivery of such important global events in 2021.”