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This tidal harbour, today associated with old hulks lying in the mud exposed at the low tide, is the western entry to the Forth and Clyde Canal. It is enclosed by two structures, a dyke to the west (built 1856 by the Clyde Trustees) and the eastern (built 1846) which was a long timber quayside, now almost totally gone. It was laid out in 1846 when a new sea lock from the western side of Bowling Canal Basin opened into the harbour. The older 1775 sea lock opens southwards to the river.

The western half was used by the North British Railway and London and North Eastern Railway for over-wintering of their summer only vessels. Additionally vessels were stored here before receiving attention at the neighbouring shipyard.

The eastern half was owned by the Caledonian Railway. Steamers brought iron ore and limestone here, which was transshipped to lighters to continue their journey by the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Sidings served a quayside with rail mounted travelling cranes located at the north east corner of the harbour, this was a bunkering quay alongside the Harbour Master's office. It also handled general cargo (timber, limestone, iron ore etc). This was served from both the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway (to the north and open today) and the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway (closed - access was from Bowling Harbour Signal Box to the east, the line running west by a small swing bridge alongside the much larger bridge extant today). Coal, and later oil, was delivered to the bunkering quay (the ESSO oil tanks were probably being staged here on their way to the Bowling Oil Terminal.

This harbour has for over a hundred years been the final resting place of vessels, the PS Industry of 1814 being one of the first. She was sunk after a collision in 1862 and having been raised was decommissioned in 1869. The engine (her second of 1828) was removed to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum and the hulk was left to deteriorate in Bowling Harbour. The engine is now at the Riverside Museum.

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