Historic Vessels at Risk List

RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE MARITIME BRITAIN

This section aims to highlight some of the important historic vessels of Britain that are currently at risk of being lost overseas or scrapped in the near future or next couple of years. The vessels are listed by date of construction. These vessels are an important and irreplaceable part of Britain’s heritage and if lost will deny their history to future generations. But there is still time and we hope you can help and do everything you can both financially and in any other way you can to help save these exceptionally historic vessels for future generations and Britain’s heritage. We may not be able to save them all but if we all act now at least we can save as many as possible, perhaps hopefully all. But time is running out and they all need your help now.

THE CURRENT NUMBER OF HISTORIC SHIPS ON THIS "AT RISK LIST" IS:

25 Ships

If you think your vessel should be added to this danger list please e-mail:

Alex Naughton ajnaughton@hotmail.com

When doing so please could you explain why and giving us a general background of the vessel in question if that is possible.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

HM Frigate Unicorn (1824)

The Frigate Unicorn is the oldest British built ship afloat and is probably the most complete and original example of a wooden hulled warship of the Georgian period. She was built in 1824 at the Chatham Dockyard as the last of the Leda class frigates. Since 1968 she has been preserved as a tourist attraction on the Dundee waterfront in Victoria Dock. She is an exceptionally historic ship and deserves to be maintained for future generations. Sadly after many years open to the public her age is taking its toll and her condition is deteriorating and she now needs assistance and funding to stabilise her condition and prevent any further deterioration so that she can be returned to her former glory again and continue to bring enjoyment to future generations of visitors. Please do everything you can to help this national treasure.

Website: www.frigateunicorn.org

SV City of Adelaide (1864)

She is unique as the last remaining example of a composite-built passenger cargo sailing ship, the world's oldest composite ship, and Britain's oldest clipper ship. The only other Clipper Ship surviving is the Cutty Sark which is a few years younger. As a result she is of World Heritage importance. The clipper ship is presently laid up at the Scottish Maritime Museum Irvine and is at risk. The ship has survived three sinkings and three attempts to scrap her while preserved in Glasgow. Do you really want this historic ship to suffer any further indignities or be lost to Britain’s heritage? However on the 3rd February 2006 BBC Scotland reported that the plans to restore the City of Adelaide are to be abandoned and consequently the ship is to be dismantled and scrapped. A sad end to a historic and venerable ship.

However in light of the severe fire on the Cutty Sark on the 21st May 2007, we urge that the scrapping of Britain's only other remaining clipper ship should urgently be reconsidered. The Cutty Sark and the City of Adelaide are Britain's only two surviving clipper ships (the Adelaide being a passenger clipper, and the Cutty Sark a tea clipper) and therefore both are unique in their own way. They are therefore both of immense historical significance. The City of Adelaide is in fact older than the Cutty Sark. If Cutty Sark is important and a maritime icon then the City of Adelaide is even more important and worthy of being a maritime icon. In fact she is a forgotten icon and needs to be rediscovered.

Just as the S.S. Great Britain in Bristol epitomises the dawn of the ocean liner in the mid 19th century, the City of Adelaide epitomises passenger travel in the Age of Sail before the arrival of the ocean liners. She sailed from Britain to Australia and served the London to Adelaide passenger and wool trade route. She had 14 First Class cabins and carried 270 Second Class passengers. She is also the only surviving passenger cargo sailing ship from Australia's most crucial period of development in the 1870s and 80s. She has strong historical connections in telling the story of the emigrant trade between the UK (including Scotland) and Australia. If restored to her former glory she could be the passenger cargo sailing clipper ship version of the S.S. Great Britain. Instead of telling the story of the dawn of the ocean liners, the City of Adelaide could tell the story of passenger ocean travel in the Age of Sail and the emigrant trade between Britain and Australia. Indeed she is the only ship that can tell this epic and inspiring story of passenger travel and emigration in the 19th century in the Age of Sail. So she is of huge international historical significance and a true maritime icon worthy of preservation and restoration.

Indeed the Cutty Sark and City of Adelaide are the last two 19th century composite clipper ships that survive anywhere in the world. To lose one or both of these historic ships would be a national and international tragedy and a huge loss to Scotland, Britain and the world's cultural heritage. The City of Adelaide, like the Cutty Sark and S.S. Great Britain, is a maritime icon of international significance and can contribute a great deal to culture, tourism and the local economy. The City of Adelaide is a forgotten icon that should be allowed to fulfill her full potential.

The City of Adelaide must be saved, and the damage to the Cutty Sark just goes to show how priceless both ships are. If we lost the City of Adelaide and any other tragedy happened to the Cutty Sark then we would lose both surviving clipper ships. Do we really want to risk that happening? I hope not, the City of Adelaide must be saved and not scrapped but instead safeguarded, her condition stablised and then restored to her former glory. That way we at least will have two surviving clipper ships, both of major international historical significance.

Websites: www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org

www.classic-boats.co.uk/carrick/

www.sunderlandmaritimeheritage.org.uk

SV Cutty Sark (1869)

She was one of the last tea clippers built and is the only clipper ship of any type preserved today and so is of great historic importance. Now over 130 years after her launch this venerable British icon is still a beautiful and unique vessel that delights the visiting public, however after many years on display she is getting tired and in need of a further restoration to keep her in good shape for many years to come. But significant funds are need for this to happen otherwise her fate may be scrap or being sold abroad and lost to Britain’s heritage. Do you really want to lose this national treasure, London landmark and much loved national historic monument?

In January 2005 the Cutty Sark was given the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out a £25 million restoration and conservation programme on the Cutty Sark to secure her future for generations to come. It is hoped that work will commence in late 2006.

On the 21st May 2007 tragedy struck the Cutty Sark and her restoration, when a severe fire swept through the ship in Greenwich. It is thought that it may be arson. Thankfully 50% of the ship was stored in Chatham for restoration work so is safe. Unfortunately the rest which was in Greenwich has been 80% destroyed including her three wooden decks. There are also concerns about whether there is any damage to her wrought iron frames. The Cutty Sark Trust clearly is devestated by this news but has pledged to do everything they can to try to restore her as planned. She is a national icon and maritime treasure and major tourist attraction vital for the economy of Greenwich. She urgently needs everyone's help.

However in light of this tragic fire your funding and your support is urgently needed to rescue this magnificent ship and enable her to be restored to her former glory as intended. However this fire has severely set back the project and the planned timescale.

Website: www.cuttysark.org.uk

HMS Handy (1883)

This exceptionally historic Victorian era Royal Navy gunboat was built by Armstrong Whitworth & Co., Newcastle upon Tyne in 1883 and commissioned into the Royal Navy as a gunboat the following year as HMS Handy. In 1891 she was renamed HMS Excellent and won a battle honour (Belgium Coast 1914-1916) during the First World War. Later she served in the Royal Navy as HMS Calcutta and then HMS Snapper. Eventually she was retired and sold to the Dover Harbour Board and converted into the crane vessel Demon. Today she is laid up at the Harry Pounds shipyard in Portsmouth awaiting her fate. The yard is offering her free to any organisation who wishes to save her for preservation and will include her steam engine. But time is running out for this historic survivor, and she needs your help now.

S/S Nomadic (1911)

The S/S Nomadic is one of the most historic ships still in existence anywhere in the world and she is the very last tangible link with the RMS Titanic and White Star Line. She was built by Harland & Wolff Ltd in Belfast for White Star Line as their Cherbourg tender to serve the RMS Titanic and Olympic. She must be saved at all cost for future generations and to help tell the story of White Star Line and the Titanic. Her most appropriate home would be either Cherbourg or Belfast (Northern Ireland in the UK). She is currently the subject of a French preservation bid (to put her in Cherbourg) and a British preservation bid to put her in Belfast. We support and welcome both bids. But if France doesn't care enough about her then we believe that Belfast and Belfast Industrial Heritage Ltd should at least be given the chance to give her a good home. She deserves to be saved and everything possible must be done by our two great nations to save this most historic ship. It would be a disgrace and an unforgivable national tragedy for both our great maritime nations if this ship was allowed to be scrapped. We urge ship enthusiasts, the general public, influential organisations and both the British and French Governments to do everything they can to save this very historic little ship for future generations. There is only one chance and that is now. Thankfully on the 26th January 2006 she was purchased by the British Government's Northern Ireland Office on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland for preservation in Belfast as part of the proposed Titanic Signature Project which will celebrate Belfast shipbuilding and the story of the Titanic. Shortly she will be transported back home to Belfast for restoration by her original builders - Harland & Wolff Ltd. However funds are still needed for the restoration so your support is still needed to secure the future of this historic ship. In 18 months if restoration cannot be progressed due to lack of funds then there is a possibility that she could be sold again. But for now her future is more secure than ever and she is returning home to Belfast. On the 17th July 2006 the Nomadic arrived in Belfast and a hopefully more secure future.

Websites: www.nomadicpreservationsociety.co.uk

L.V. 78 (1914) Calshot Spit Light Vessel

The L.V. 78 lightship was built in 1914 by J. Thornycroft, Woolston, Southampton for Trinity House. She was built for service as the Calshot Spit lightship at the entrance to the Port of Southampton and was familiar to generations of ocean travellers as the gateway to Southampton. Stationed off Calshot Spit she served ships entering and leaving Southampton Docks from 1914 to 1988 and was the last sight Southampton sailors saw of their home, and the first sight of it when they returned. Coasters, deep-sea cargo vessels, and passenger liners were grateful for her presence at the Calshot Spit, guiding them up Southampton Water and into Southampton Docks.

Since 1988 when she was retired from service she has become a landmark in the Ocean Village regeneration scheme in Southampton. However she is now landlocked and surrounded by concrete, and she is owned by Wilson Bowden City Homes. However, work is due to start towards the end of 2007 on the construction of the last phase of the Admiral's Quay development in and around the lightship's present site, which may result in the historic ship needing to find another home. Wilson Bowden is keen to preserve the vessel because of its important place in Southampton's maritime heritage. However possible sites where the ship could be relocated to are hard to come by. Four suggestions have been put forward for a new home for this historic lightship including:

1. Placing the lightship as an integral part of any future plans for the city's Royal Pier.

2. An attraction for Mayflower Park.

3. As a part of the redevelopment on the former Vosper Thornycroft site at Woolston.

4. In a position overlooking the vessel's old anchorage at Calshot.

Sadly discussions are continuing about the future of this historic lightship, but she is in declining condition and is landlocked. We really hope that this important part of Southampton's maritime heritage can be saved for present and future generations and find a prominent new home on Southampton's waterfront where she can be a much loved attraction and be well maintained. She should be placed in a prominent location where she is visible to everyone to act as a beacon to our maritime heritage. She was once a beacon marking the gateway to the port of Southampton; now she can be a tourism beacon for Southampton's maritime history. Southampton has woefully neglected its maritime heritage in recent years and has lost much of it. We can't afford to lose this as well.

WW1 Monitor M33 HMS Minerva (1915)

Monitor M33 is an extremely rare survivor being the last surviving First World War small gun monitors and is one of only two British naval ships from that period that have survived the First World War and the ravages of time. Today she is owned by Hampshire County Council and is berthed in dry dock in the No 1 Dry dock alongside the famous HMS Victory at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and is undergoing restoration to her original WW1 era external appearance. She is one of five six-inch gun monitors ordered from Harland and Wolff, Belfast, and was subcontracted to the neighbouring shipyard of Workman Clark Limited. Ordered on 15th March 1915, launched 22nd May and completed 24th June 1915, this was quite an achievement for even such a small vessel. She is a First World War veteran and survived the Battle of Gallipoli and also served in Northern Russia. She is truly an extremely rare survivor and is the only surviving First World War small-gun monitor and the one of only two surviving British naval vessels from that era still in existence. Once restoration is complete it is intended to open M33 to the public. So please do help and support this exceptionally historic and rare survivor so that she can remain in the UK and so that her important story can be told to present and future generations.

Website: www.hants.org/m33/

PS Medway Queen (1924)

The Medway Queen is the last estuary paddle steamer left in this country. She is a veteran of the Second World War seeing action as a minesweeper and rescuing 7000 men from Dunkirk, all these exploits earning her the nickname “Heroine of Dunkirk”. She is currently laid up at Damhead Creek on the River Medway undergoing restoration.

On the 27th June 2006 it was announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund had given their support to the Phase One restoration of the Medway Queen. This phase 1 restoration will involve the refurbishment of the hull, steelwork and decks thus stablising the ship's condition and securing her future. This will then pave the way for the Phase 2 restoration work to refurbish her engines, boiler and paddle wheels resulting in her return to operational condition. But as ever the Medway Queen still needs funding and your support to ensure that her restoration is completed and that she returns to full operational condition as she deserves.

Website: www.medwayqueen.co.uk

Tug Tender Calshot (1929)

She is a rare survivor of a Southampton tug tender. She was the largest tug built for Red Funnel and served many famous ocean liners including the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, United States, France and many others. During the Second World War she moved to the Clyde and was used to ferry troops out to the Cunard Queens. Today she is based in Southampton and is undergoing restoration to her original condition, please do help her she deserves to be saved for future generations and restored to her original glory. It is hoped to have her restored and returned to operational condition by the end of 2007 but to achieve this she needs funding and your support. Southampton has woefully neglected its maritime heritage in recent years and has lost much of it. We can't afford to lose this as well.

Website: www.tugtendercalshot.co.uk

PS John H Amos (1931)

The John H Amos is one of only two British paddle tugs to have survived the breaker’s yard and is the only one still in Britain. Today she lies in deteriorating condition on a slipway at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent awaiting her fate. Surely this unique and rare sole surviving steam paddle tug in Britain deserves to be looked after and sympathetically restored to her former glory.

Website: www.johnhamos.org

PS Ryde (1937)

The Ryde is the last Southern Railway paddle steamer built and today is also the last surviving Southern Railway ship. She is a veteran of the Second World War seeing action as a minesweeper and as an anti-aircraft vessel supporting the D-Day Normandy Invasion. She is currently laid up on the River Medina on the Isle of Wight in deteriorating condition after years of neglect and really is in urgent need of rescuing and safeguarding before her condition gets any worse so that there is some chance that she can be fully restored and protected for future generations to enjoy. Sadly in August 2006 her funnel collapsed and this means that any chance of saving her as she stands is slim. Now the only viable option to save a semblance of the PS Ryde would be to systematically dismantle the ship in situ (like the Medway Queen Preservation Society have done with the PS Medway Queen) and rebuild the ship almost as new using salvaged parts from the original. As the Medway Queen is proving this is a realistic and viable option (indeed the only option) for the remains of the PS Ryde. Moving the ship as a whole ship in her condition from the River Medina would now be impossible. So she can be saved still but only by complete dismantling and total reconstruction. It is not over yet and it is still possible to save her but time is running out. Sadly in April 2008 it was announced that the ship is to be broken up on site. Thus we say farewell to the last Southern Railway steamer.

Website: www.psryde.co.uk

HMS Whimbrel (1942)

She is a veteran of WW2 and one of the few remaining Royal Navy vessels from that time and she played an important role in the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the famous Captain Walker’s hunter killer group. She is now the sole survivor of Britain’s contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic and so is very important historically for that reason. She is presently laid up in Alexandria, Egypt after service in the Egyptian Navy and deserves to be repatriated to the UK to serve as a monument to the Battle of the Atlantic and represent the warships of that time for future generations.

Website: www.mikekemble.com/ww2/walker9.html

www.hmswhimbrel.org

HMS Zenith (1944)

The HMS Zenith is a Royal Navy “Z” class escort destroyer laid down in 19^th May 1942 and launched on the 5^th June 1944 and commissioned on the 22^nd December 1944 by William Denny Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland,

. During the Second World War she was used as a convoy escort for the Russian convoys. On the 16^th September 1945 (VJ day) she was in Malta to celebrate the end of the war with the HMCS Algonquin and 5 MTBs and the Governor of Malta. In 1955 she was sold to the Egyptian Navy where she became the EL FATAH. Currently named EL FATAH and used as an accommodation ship by the Egyptian Navy off Alexandria.

She is a rare rare survivor from the Second World War and is currently laid up in Alexandria, Egypt after serving in the Egyptian Navy. She played an important role as a convoy escort during the Second World War. She is an important representative of the Royal Navy’s contribution to the WW2 and deserves to be repatriated as a monument of this time for future generations.

Landing Ship, Tank LST 3515 HMS Stalker (1944)

The most spectacular naval innovation of World War II was the shallow-draft landing craft used to bring large forces quickly to enemy beaches during amphibious assaults. The most famous example of these was the LST (landing ship, tank), a large beaching craft that could embark and disembark troops and vehicles directly from shore to shore. Without the LSTs like the HMS Stalker and her type the D-Day Landings could not have been contemplated let alone have succeeded.

HMS Stalker is a Canadian built vessel and is the sole surviving Landing Ship Tank from a vast fleet conceived, designed, built and used to such good effect during WW2. Although ‘Stalker’ was a ‘New Build’ design she was given ‘Steam Reciprocating Engines’. These steam engines where readily available at the time and as there was a shortage of ‘American Diesel Engines’ these where used as the alternative.

The design also called for a speed of 13kts in a deep condition and 13.5kts in a beaching condition using the frigate-type machinery. This machinery was chosen because the locomotive type diesels used in the American LST Mk2’s could not be obtained. The frigate-type machinery was steam powered and at the time was more or less readily available, it was ‘old technology’ but it worked. So here we have a ‘new design’ vessel but with old type engines!

These engines are known as ‘Four Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Reciprocating’ and although at the time they where readily available now they have become very rare and are themselves ‘Historic Maritime Artefacts’ as is all the other machinery that survives with in this vessel. This then from a Marine Technology standpoint makes this vessel and all its machinery a valuable and irreplaceable maritime artefact truly a vessel of ‘Extraordinary Maritime Importance’.

These type of vessels as it turns out where built too late for WW2 and as with ‘Stalker’ they had no ‘War Record’, but it wasn’t until after WW2 that this type of vessel really showed just how ‘flexible and adaptable’ the design really was.

In 1946 a brand new concept of transport was developed in the UK. The idea was like many others born during W/W2. It was during W/W2 that a few experienced men who were taking part in seaborne operations against hostile forces in North Africa, Italy and culminating in the Normandy Landings recognised the great potential of landing craft. The idea was simple; if you could drive tanks, guns and lorries directly onto a ship and then drive them off at the other end directly onto a beach, then theoretically you could use the same landing craft to carry out the same operation in the civilian commercial market, providing there were reasonable port facilities. From this one idea grew the world wide Roll on/Roll off ferry industry that we know to-day.

The Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (ASN) successfully negotiated with the Ministry of War Transport, the Admiralty and the War Office the charter for a period of three years of the British Landing Ship Tanks (LST’s) 3519, 3534 and 3512. These vessels where named; Empire Baltic, Empire Cedric and Empire Celtic respectfully. It was at 11am, on Wednesday 11th September 1946 when Empire Baltic sailed fully loaded from 26 berth at Tilbury Docks, under command of Captain J.W. Rennie that the first voyage of the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. took place. The voyage from Tilbury to Rotterdam took a good 24 hours.

After the maiden voyage the ASN then used their new vessels to carry backwards and forwards thousands of vehicles for the Army between Tilbury and Hamburg. This service being eventually moved to Antwerp in 1955. In 1954, the ASN was taken over under the Labour Governments nationalisation policy by the British Transport Commission (BTC).

The last LST Mk3 left in the world to-day is LST 3515 HMS Stalker, which is similar to those LSTs used by the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Thus HMS Stalker is the sole example of the British designed LST that helped the Atlantic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. become the pioneers of the Roll on/ Roll off ferry routes many of which still survive to-day.

The HMS Stalker is 80% original as built in 1945. She still has both her main engines, both boilers and all the equipment to operate the bow doors and ramps, she also has the original hull and fire pumps, ballast pumps, all her steering gear equipment even the original ships gyro on the starboard side of the ship. She does have upper deck equipment missing but this is nothing that cannot be replaced or re- manufactured.

She is also a time capsule the last remaining Steam Powered Landing Ship Tank left in the world today! Stalker belongs to an era when the world was at war, where technology was pushed to its limits through necessity!

HMS Stalker was built by Canadian Yarrow at Esquimalt, Canada in 1944 and was not completed until 1945. Stalker herself it seems did not arrive in the UK until sometime in 1946. Therefore she and her Canadian built sisters, along with their British counterparts, were all built too late for W/W2. Landing Ship Tanks were never assigned individual crests, or even type badges, such as those assigned to other naval vessels. However, after 1947 LST 3515 was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Stalker, and was employed as a submarine support vessel and sent to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

It would be at this point that this vessel would have inherited the ships crest of the previous Stalker, an Escort Carrier, along with her Battle Honors. She was in 1972 transferred to the then Royal Naval Base at Rosyth, Scotland where she carried on her role as a submarine support ship even after being transferred to Babcock Marine when the dockyard changed hands. According to official sources Stalker was placed on the Royal Navy’s scrap list in May 1970. Stalker became redundant from her position as a submarine support ship in 2002, when the repair of Nuclear Submarines stopped, and once again she was up for sale as scrap! Stalker finished up being transferred to Pounds Marine Shipping, Tipner, Portsmouth where she is still berthed today awaiting either scrapping or buying being restored.

She is currently laid up in Portsmouth Harbour awaiting her fate. Technically HMS Stalker is already worthy of listing as a Historic Ship of the utmost international importance. She is believed to be the last survivor of her type and class in the world; she is certainly the last in UK waters. Therefore it would be a national tragedy if this historic ship was allowed to go to scrap and everything possible must be done to ensure that she is saved for future generations to represent the type of vessel that made the D-Day Landings possible.

Website: www.maritimesteamrestorationtrust.co.uk

Landing Craft, Tank LCT 7074 (aka HMS Landfall) (1944)

It was in 1937 that consideration was first given to the provision of shore-to-shore tank carriers and landing craft. It was a supreme measure of collaboration and effort when another of the principal shipbuilders, Hawthorn Leslie, delivered the very first Tank Landing Craft in history in November 1940. This was only made possible due to the enthusiasm and co-operation of all concerned at their Hebburn yard on Tyneside enabling the delivery of an entirely new type of craft. This was designated as an L.C.T. MK I. The craft encompassed some novel features - some of which we now take for granted such as a ramp which was hinged just above the waterline (the forerunner of the Roll-On Roll-Off ferries) and a double floating dock type of hull. Furthermore, the vehicles were protected from the weather and concealed from view by the side tanks from which a canvas cover was suspended over the hold.

A total of 235 LCT Mk 3s were completed. This total includes 71 to slightly modified plans, which were built by the main shipbuilders during the winter of 1943 – 44. In the modified vessels an American Sterling Admiral petrol engine was fitted in lieu of the Paxman Diesel. The LCT 7074 was one of these 71 modified craft and was built by Hawthorne Leslie and Co. Ltd at their Hebburn Yard on the River Tyne. She was launched without ceremony on the 4^th April 1944 and was completed on the 6th April 1944.

After commissioning she sailed down the East Coast from the River Tyne and joined the 17^th LCT Flotilla in Great Yarmouth. Then the flotilla sailed to Harwich and later to Felixstowe to join the build up for D-Day.

LCT 7074 is the last surviving LCT that took part in the D-Day landings. More than 700 landing craft tank provided the backbone of the invasion of Normandy. LCT's could carry eleven Sherman tanks and LCT 7074 carried ten to Normandy; nine got on the beach without being hit or breaking down. The 800 LCT's, which were mainly manned by British crews, were the backbone of the largest amphibious force ever launched from this country. LCT's carried almost all the tanks, heavy artillery and armoured vehicles landed in Normandy. For months after the invasion LCT 7074 ferried supplies for the Allied Armies to ports across the Channel. The former Chief of the Defence Staff Field Marshal Lord Bramall has described the LCT 7074 as "An irreplaceable part of Britain's military and wartime history".

LCT 7074 then returned to Southampton to load American reinforcements to take back to Normandy for the assault on Cherbourg. Then in April 1945 she was taken to Liverpool for conversion into an emergency repair ship with plans for her to join operations in the Far East. They never materialised however due to the Japanese surrender and the conversion was not completed. On the 19^th April 1945 LCT 7074 ended her life as an active landing craft having given sterling service in the D-Day Landings.

At the cessation of hostilities at the end of the Second World War LCT 7074 was presented as a gift by a grateful Admiralty, to the Master Mariners of Liverpool who had performed such heroic deeds in the Battles of the Atlantic. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board willingly provided a berth. On the 20^th September 1948, Admiral Sir Max K. Horton, in the company of Admiral Sir Percy Noble, The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, The Earl of Derby and Viscount Leverhulme, re-launched the most exclusive club in Liverpool.

After her extensive remodelling, the rather plain warship had lost her unromantic number and was renamed "The Clubship Landfall". The Merseyside Master Mariners Club had a membership of some 100 active or retired ship's masters at the time. The venture had the full support of the Merseyside Ship Owners Association and the Landfall was installed as a landmark in Liverpool's maritime history.

Eventually she became part of the Historic Warships Birkenhead collection and became laid up in East Float awaiting restoration. Sadly in January 2006 it was announced that the Historic Warships Birkenhead had gone into liquidation and the visitor attraction would close. The collection has been requested to vacate their berths as soon as possible as the site is required for redevelopment. As a result the future of the collection and this historic Landing Craft is now at risk, with scrapping a distinct possibility and it would be a national tragedy if this historic ship and last surviving active participant of the D-Day Landings of this type was allowed to go to scrap. The Historic Warships Birkenhead visitor attraction sadly closed on the 5th February 2006 and the ships must be moved to a new home by the beginning of March 2006 otherwise the liquidators will move in, the volunteers will be disbanded and they could end up being scrapped.

HMS Rame Head (1945)

This is the last surviving British designed Canadian built Second World War “Fort” class merchant cargo ships, the British / Canadian version of the US Victory and Liberty ships. This ship together with the great Liberty and Victory ships formed part of the great Empire fleet which the USA and Canada constructed during the Second World War to come to the aid and support of Britain in her time of need. Together this great fleet and the various classes of ship which formed the WW2 standard merchant cargo ships of the emergency fleet were simple and strong and went on to play a vital role in transporting goods from the New World to the Old and as a lifeline to Britain in the Second World War. These ships later went on to serve Britain again when she was rebuilding her merchant navy after the war as cargo ships owned by the many commercial shipping companies and in this role formed the backbone of the post-war tramping fleets of the world. These important but often unrecognised ships, their sailors and their contribution to Britain’s survival during the Second World War should be recognised and commemorated both in North America and here in the UK and Europe. The preservation of this ship as a living Memorial Ship to the British Merchant Navy would be a great way of recognising the Merchant Navy’s role in both peace and war. It also would go a great way to recognising the importance of this ship and her cousins the Liberty and Victory ships. Alternatively she would make an excellent mobile maintenance and repair ship to aid the restoration of historic ships. Today she is currently laid up in Portsmouth Harbour in remarkable condition awaiting her fate.

MV Royal Iris (1950)

In 1950 the famous William Denny Bros, Dumbarton shipbuilders on the Clyde excelled themselves by producing the twin screw, diesel electric ship Royal Iris for Wallasey Corporation in December 1950. Yard No. 1448, the Royal Iris ran her trials on the famous Skelmorlie mile on the Clyde on the 24th April 1951, and was delivered to the Mersey on the 28th April 1951. She was by far the largest and most commodious vessel ever built for the all year round service from Liverpool to Seacombe and the summer service to New Brighton. Her gross tonnage was 1,234 tons and she was 160 ft overall in length and 48 ft in breadth. The Royal Iris was also to have the dual role of being principal summer cruise boat and for this, she was designed with a Class III passenger certificate to enable her to sail on short excursions to sea. Originally the Royal Iris could carry 2,296 passengers on her Class V (smooth water) certificate and 1000 when running on her seasonal Class III certificate.

Outwardly she differed from any other ship and was very sleek above the waterline, resembling a large waterbus. She carried the Borough coat of arms proudly on the front of her streamlined, unusual and futuristic looking superstructure, until the ultimate merging of the Wallasey and Birkenhead ferry fleets. Her hull underwater was designed to facilitate instant manoeuvring and control in the often crowded shipping lanes of the River Mersey. She also had to be capable of withstanding the gales which regularly sweep the Mersey Estuary, especially during the winter months. Compared to other Mersey ferries she was very highly mechanically advanced for the time. She was built with four diesel generator sets connected to two Metropolitan Vickers electrical propulsion motors which, between them, could produce a total of 1,460 horsepower if required. The beauty of the system was that she could run almost as well on three generators and the power was instantly controllable from the bridge.

Originally she had an eyecatching bright yellow and green livery which was later modified by raising the green hull paint one level higher. In 1971/2 this colour scheme gave way to plain blue and white followed by all the colours of the Union Jack for her sailings in connection with the Liverpool Flower Festival of 1984/85 which was a colourful image she retained until the beginning of her final season. For use with her Class III certificate, she originally had a pair of large, side slung lifeboats which were removed in the 1971/2 winter facelift.

Latterly the Royal Iris sailed only with a Class V certificate for 1,200 passengers, but rarely carried more than half that number. As a cruise ship, she gained the nickname of “the fish and chip boat” or “the booze boat” on account of the large volumes of food and drink consumed on such trips. At different times, she was also marketed as a “Great Summer Sail” and “The Mersey Pirate”. She had a large area for dining and drinking and a spacious dance floor. Midway through her career in 1971 the fish and chip cafe, an integral part of her original design, was replaced with a steak bar and dining area accommodating 150 passengers. Her passenger accommodation was large by Mersey ferry standards and there was room for over 2000 passengers undercover.

On the 21st June 1977, the Royal Iris had the honour of conveying HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on their memorable Silver Jubilee Mersey Review. Early in her career, the Royal Iris’s most distant seaward destination from Liverpool was to the Bar Lightship, 14 miles north west out to sea. Sailing inland, in the later part of her career she traversed the Manchester Ship Canal on occasions, carrying cruise passengers. In the 1980s she was used as a floating restaurant, moored at Pier Head and was marketed as “The Quarterdeck”, providing lunchtime refreshment for Liverpool’s city residents and tourists. Her only occasion when she went outside the Mersey or Liverpool was in April and May 1985 when she was send south on a publicity drive for Merseyside. At that time she sailed all the way round Lands End, on to London and under Tower Bridge berthing next to HMS Belfast. She accomplished the 1,500 mile trip without incident and returned triumphantly home a month later.

Sadly the Royal Iris was getting older and the summer of 1990 turned out to be her last full season. Repainted mainly white, with a blue hull, she was present and very busy on the 24th July 1990, when the Cunard flagship Queen Elizabeth 2 visited the Mersey for the first time.

In the 40th year of operations and by then becoming a rather tired old lady, the Royal Iris ran a farewell evening cruise on the 12th January 1991, prior to being taken out of service and laid up awaiting a report into her future. On the 21st April 1991 she was reactivated and, with a special one day licence, was granted permission to carry 600 people on the 73rd anniversary trip to commemorate the Zeebrugge raid of 1918. In August 1991 the long awaited report on her future was produced and due to the great costs of bringing her up to modern standards and getting her through survey it was decided to retire her, thus leaving Mersey Ferries without a boat for cruises. With no imminent static use suggested for her she was placed in the hands of shipbroker S.C. Chambers Ltd of Liverpool for an asking price of £100,000 and in November 1991 she was sold for use as a floating nightclub in Liverpool but later moved to Swansea then the River Thames in London. This use as since fallen through and today she is laid up in a neglected and derelict condition at Woolwich on the River Thames awaiting her fate.

This unique, streamlined and much loved Mersey Ferry originally painted in an eye-catching bright yellow and green livery is now laid up derelict and neglected awaiting her fate at Woolwich on the River Thames in London. Surely this unique, innovative, unusual and much loved former Mersey Ferry deserves to be saved and restored to her former glory for future generations to enjoy as so many have in the past.

HMS Bronington (1953)

This historic "Ton" class minesweeper is notable as having been commanded by HRH The Prince of Wales 1976. In 1989 she was retired from service and acquired by the Bronington Trust. She was preserved for some years at Salford Quays on the Manchester Ship Canal but later moved to Birkenhead to join the Historic Warships Birkenhead collection. Sadly in January 2006 it was announced that the Historic Warships Birkenhead had gone into liquidation and the visitor attraction would close. The collection has been requested to vacate their berths as soon as possible as the site is required for redevelopment. As a result the future of the collection and this historic minesweeper is now at risk, with scrapping a distinct possibility. If she and the Historic Warships Birkenhead collection were lost then an irreplaceable memorial to the Royal Navy and the Falklands War campaign would be lost forever. The Historic Warships Birkenhead visitor attraction sadly closed on the 5th February 2006 and the ships must be moved to a new home by the beginning of March 2006 otherwise the liquidators will move in, the volunteers will be disbanded and they could end up being scrapped.

S/S Manxman (1955)

The SS Manxman is the last coastal turbine passenger steamer that survives in the UK and represents all the great diversity of coastal steamers and ferries that once operated around Britain’s coasts and so is of international and national importance. The Manxman is a supremely elegant vessel, her fine lines being similar to the great liners of the past with whom she shared the landing stage at Liverpool. She represents the ultimate development of her type, from an era when good sea keeping qualities were a prime requirement. Restored in her original Isle of Man Steam Packet colours the ship would present a truly wonderful sight for future generations. She is currently laid up at Pallion’s Shipyard, Sunderland on the River Wear awaiting her fate. This ship is now (May 2006) in very grave danger of being scrapped . Recently the ship was vandalised and Pallion Engineering have told the Manxman Steamship Company that they cannot wait any longer and will immediately put the ship up for sale on the scrap market. Channel 4 were to film and broadcast a TV documentary outlining the preservation of the SS Manxman but have now withdrawn due to delays. In late April 2006 the Mersey Docks & Harbour Company (now part of Peel Holdings PLC) withdrew their offer of a berth for the Manxman and soon afterwards the Liverpool Capital of Culture Company withdrew their £60, 000 financial support to keep the project going. As a result things look increasingly bleak for the future of the SS Manxman. If she is to be saved then the last chance is now.

Website: www.ssmanxman.co.uk

S/S Duke of Lancaster (1956)

The Duke of Lancaster was built in 1956 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for British Railways. She served on their Heysham to Belfast service. She was withdrawn from service in 1979 and sold to Empirewise & Solitaire (Liverpool) Ltd for use as a market. However that use ceased after a few years and she has been derelict for many years now. She is located at a creek near Mostyn in North Wales and is visible for the North Wales rail line. Recently there were rumours circulating that she might be scrapped. However in September 2007 it was reported that her owners had no plans to scrap her but did not really know what to do with her either. As a result they were open to suggestions as to what to do with this fine ship. They wouldn't mind seeing her restored to her former glory but realise that this would cost a lot of money.

She is one of the last surviving railway steamers in the UK and currently laid up at Rhyl on the North Wales coast in deteriorating condition awaiting her fate. If she is lost we will lose an irreplaceable part of our maritime & railway heritage.

Website: www.dukeoflancaster.net

HMS Plymouth (1959)

The HMS Plymouth was the last of the Type 12 Rothesay Class anti-submarine frigates built for the Royal Navy and was launched in July 1959. She is notable as having saw service throughout the Falklands War. In 1989 she was retired from service and preserved by the Historic Warships Birkenhead. Sadly in January 2006 it was announced that the Historic Warships Birkenhead had gone into liquidation and the visitor attraction would close. The collection has been requested to vacate their berths as soon as possible as the site is required for redevelopment. As a result the future of the collection and this very historic warship is now at risk, with scrapping a distinct possibility. If she and the Historic Warships Birkenhead collection were lost then an irreplaceable memorial to the Royal Navy and the Falklands War campaign would vanish forever. The Historic Warships Birkenhead visitor attraction sadly closed on the 5th February 2006 and the ships must be moved to a new home by the beginning of March 2006 otherwise the liquidators will move in, the volunteers will be disbanded and they could end up being scrapped. It is thought that discussions are underway regarding a proposal to relocate the HMS Plymouth to Plymouth. We note this development with interest and await further progress.

Website: www.warshipmanagement.co.uk

L.V. Planet (1961) Mersey Bar Light Vessel

The Planet was built in 1961 by Philip & Sons, Dartmouth and is probably one of the last riveted ships built. She is a most historic light vessel and was the last manned lightvessel in UK waters. As the Mersey Bar light vessel she served ships entering and leaving the River Mersey from 1961 to 1972 and was the last sight Merseyside sailors saw of their home, and the first sight of it when they returned. Coasters, deep-sea cargo vessels, passenger liners and warships were grateful for her presence at the Mersey Bar, guiding them into and out of the channel, and providing a radio DF calibration service. In September 1972 she ceased to be the Mersey Bar light vessel and was removed from her station. However she continued to serve as a lightship in the English Channel off Guernsey until 1983. Today she is preserved alongside the Historic Warships Birkenhead. Sadly in January 2006 it was announced that the Historic Warships Birkenhead had gone into liquidation and the visitor attraction would close. The collection has been requested to vacate their berths as soon as possible as the site is required for redevelopment. As a result the future of the collection and this very historic light vessel is now at risk, with scrapping a distinct possibility. If this historic ship was scrapped then that would mean the loss of the last manned light-vessel in UK waters that aided so many merchant seaman over the years. Her original home was in Merseyside and she deserves to be saved for future generations. The Historic Warships Birkenhead visitor attraction sadly closed on the 5th February 2006 and the ship was moved to Vittoria Dock for restoration. Soon afterwards she was moved to Albert Dock where she remains today. However there remains some uncertainty over whether she will be allowed to remain there permanently, it rumoured that there is an offer for her to be moved to Salford Quays. However in 2008 she was put up for sale by her owner Gary McClarnan. But she is still berthed in Albert Dock alongside the Strand main road. Many still firmly believe that the area around Albert Dock is the best permanent home for her, being the Mersey Bar lightship with strong Liverpool associations. She should be placed in a prominent location where she is visible to everyone to act as a beacon to our maritime heritage. She was once a beacon marking the gateway to the port of Liverpool; now she can be a tourism beacon for Liverpool's maritime history.

Website: www.barlightvessel.org.uk

www.lv23.com

S.S. Caledonian Princess (1961)

The Caledonian Princess was built in 1961 by William Denny Bros of Dumbarton for BR’s subsidiary the Caledonian Steam Packet Company for service on the Stranraer Harbour to Larne ferry route and was soon transferred to the main British Railways fleet. She was notable as being the last railway ship built by William Denny & Bros. of Dumbarton as the shipyard closed in 1962 ending a long association between the railways and Denny. In 1965 she is repainted in the new British Rail shipping livery of blue hull and red funnel with arrow logo. In 1968 Sealink is added to her hull when it became British Rail Sealink. In 1969 she was briefly transferred to the Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare route and in 1971 was permanently moved to that route. In 1972 she officially inaugurated the new roll-on roll-off ferry terminal at Fishguard. In 1975 she was moved to various other British Rail Sealink routes and in 1981 was retired from service.

The SS CALEDONIAN PRINCESS was converted into a floating nightclub venue on the Tyne. Replaced by the former DOVER in 1986, she moved to Glasgow but later returned to the Tyne and is now moored under the Tyne Bridge and is now called the Tuxedo Princess. However it has been announced that she is to be closed after Christmas 2007 by Absolute Leisure (owned by Michael Quadrini) as the lease on the quayside is due to expire and her site is needed for the Gateshead Quays regeneration with new hotels, offices and restaurants planned for the site. As a result she is likely to be moved to lay up at Hartlepool in early 2008, thus joining the Tuxedo Royale (former Dover / Earl Siward) which is also laid up there while the company considers their future options for both ships. Sadly scrapping could be a distinct possibility for the former Caledonian Princess. We believe that she would make an excellent floating restaurant and entertainment complex in an appropriate location.

S.S. Dover / Earl Siward (1965)

She was built in 1965 by Swan Hunter Ltd of Newcastle as SS Dover for use on the British Rail ferry route out of Dover. Her original livery was blue hull and red funnel with BR arrow logo. She was the last turbine steamer ordered by British Rail. She sailed on a press voyage between Dover and Boulogne on the 13th June 1965 and then was put on show in the Pool of London four days later. She entered service from Dover on the 24th June 1965 and was the first BR ship to carry the new corporate livery of blue hull and red funnel with BR arrow logo. In 1968 British Rail’s shipping fleet is rebranded as British Rail Sealink and the word Sealink is emblazoned across her hull. In 1969 she was released from service on the English Channel by the entry into service of the new Vortigern. As a result she moved to the Irish Sea operating from Holyhead. In 1977 she was rebuilt as a drive through ship with a bow door as well as her original stern door and she was renamed the Earl Siward. In 1981 by this time renamed Earl Siward she is retired from service after becoming the last Railway owned turbine steamer to operate on the Irish Sea.

She was sold for further service in Cyprus. In Cyprus it was operated by Sol Lines from Piraeus in Greece to Haifa. It main claim to fame during this period was that it was used to help evacuate the American Embassy in Beirut. Just after this in 1986 she returned to the UK from Limassol and replaced the former Caledonian Princess as a nightclub ship on the river Tyne in Newcastle after the Caledonian Princess had been moved to Glasgow. But her return to the UK from Limassol was not without incident and at one point her towing lines broke and she floated away on her own for seven days before she could be recovered.

However the Princess returned to the Tyne and the former Dover / Earl Siward is became a floating nightclub at Middlesborough as the Tuxedo Royale owned by Absolute Leisure Ltd (owned by Michael Quadrini) and was moored since 2000 near the famous Middlesborough Transporter Bridge opposite the Middlesborough Football Club stadium. Absolute Leisure Ltd (owned by Michael Quadrini) also operate the Tuxedo Princess floating nightclub in Newcastle upon Tyne which uses the former S.S. Caledonian Princess. However sadly on the 20th April 2006 she was moved from her Middlesborough berth to make way for the Middlehaven regeneration scheme. She is now laid up in Hartlepool awaiting her fate while her owners explore potential options for her future. Surely she deserves a better fate than scrapping. We believe that she would make an excellent floating restaurant and entertainment complex in an appropriate location.

HMS Onyx (1967)

This historic "O" class Royal Navy submarine gave sterling service in the Falklands War. After being retired from Royal Navy service she was preserved by the Historic Warships Birkenhead. Sadly in January 2006 it was announced that the Historic Warships Birkenhead had gone into liquidation and the visitor attraction would close. The collection has been requested to vacate their berths as soon as possible as the site is required for redevelopment. As a result the future of the collection and this historic submarine is now at risk, with scrapping a distinct possibility. If she and the Historic Warships Birkenhead collection were lost then an irreplaceable memorial to the Royal Navy and the Falklands War campaign would vanish forever. The Historic Warships Birkenhead visitor attraction sadly closed on the 5th February 2006. In June 2006 she was purchased by the Submarine Heritage Centre Ltd and moved to Barrow in Furness where it is hoped she will open to the public as a tourist attraction and Submarine Heritage Centre soon.

Website: www.submarineheritage.com