OCTOBER 19, 2009: The Queen Mary 2 made for a truly spectacular sight as she glided gently into Greenock in the early morning gloom.

Her lights ablaze, illuminating the River Clyde, she edged towards Ocean Terminal with a loud blast of her horn signalling her imminent arrival — and giving everyone a distinctive early morning alarm call.

A small trail of smoke swirled into the air above the ship’s signature red funnel as she loomed large in front of the town.

Quayside, the bagpipes and drums of the Royal Burgh of Renfrew pipe band rang out as Clydeport staff busied around, making sure the arrival of the last cruise ship in 2009 went smoothly.

(Image: Newsquest)

To accommodate the sheer scale of Cunard’s flagship, the port’s three huge cranes had been squeezed as far down the terminal as they could go.

Out on the river, the QM2 looked majestic as she was effortlessly turned so that she faced downriver for her departure later that evening.

Her lights shimmering in the distance, she swivelled on a sixpence in front of the Esplanade — with the manoeuvre carried out there as it could not be performed off the terminal itself, at the shallower tail of the bank.

There was no need for tugs to assist QM2, with the liner’s state-of-the-art bow thrusters able to turn the ship on their own.

The massive vessel cut an awesome, almost daunting, sight as she edged slowly towards us — and early bird passengers already out on deck looked like no more than matchstick men.

One onlooker said: “She’s some size. It looks like a ship on top of a ship.”

The passengers could be clearly heard cheering and clapping the pipers on the dock, as they gave the ship a spirited Scottish reception.

Saltires were proudly draped over some balconies and cameras flashed on the decks as passengers took a snapshot of the warm welcome they were receiving.