The iconic PS Waverley paddle steamer has moved into dry dock for her annual overhaul ahead of the busy summer season. 

The vessel departed her berth in Glasgow on Monday morning, for her first sailing of the year...but only as far as Greenock for her maintenance. 

She sailed past the Govan-Partick Bridge for the first time, now in position as construction continues on the new river crossing.

When complete, this new bridge will swing open for Waverley, as will the new Renfrew Road Bridge.

Waverley steamed past Greenock before turning at the Tail of the Bank to then face upriver for berthing at Custom House Quay.

Tugs from Clyde Marine Services then slowly moved Waverley the short distance to the entrance of the Garvel Dry Dock operated by Dales Marine Services.

Over the coming days Waverley’s hull will be cleaned and inspected before being repainted.

During this docking one of the paddles will be replaced, some of the wooden belting on the paddleboxes will be renewed and the starboard rescue boat will be removed to allow for deck timbers to be renewed under the boat davits.

The cost of docking will run well into six-figures with the total winter refit costs likely to reach £750,000.

The Waverley's Clyde season begins with a weekend of cruises from May 17-19 before she heads to Oban and the Inner Hebrides and then to Northern Ireland at the end of next month.

She'll then sail on the Bristol Channel, the North Wales coast and the Mersey during June before her main Clyde cruising programme, which runs from June 28 to August 25.

Later in the year she'll visit the south-west of England, the south coast and then London and the Thames estuary before a final weekend of Clyde cruises on October 19 and 20.

Tickets are now on sale for cruises up to August 25, as well as for the Clyde sailings in October.

The timetables for the South West, South Coast and Thames will be released in the coming weeks.

Book tickets online at waverleyexcursions.co.uk.