TS Dover.

And on the BBC Tyne & Wear pages today, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-42649746 dismantling has started...

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that.

<<Neil Etherington, Able UK's business development director, said: "I know it has an emotional attachment, but it's never going to float again and it's attracted negative media attention and not helped the profile of the town.

"It's almost nine years to the day that it arrived for what was supposed to be two weeks. Now 469 weeks later, we've started to dismantle it.

"It has taken up valuable quay space and we have received no payments for its storage."

Mr Etherington said the total cost of dismantling the boat will be "in excess of £1m" with Middlesbrough Council paying just over £400,000 and the remainder being met by Able UK.>>

Able UK have been badly 'burnt' by this. As for dismantling costs - even in death, ships cost a lot. How much extra is down to the asbestos issue, I suspect we won't ever know, but it will likely be a large wedge of cash. And, of course, the hull will either have to be pumped out to move her, or simply broken up where she lies, although the latter is a big and hazardous job in itself. I suspect that it will be mainly the former, but first much of the superstructure can be cut away, then the hull can be made watertight and pumped dry, so that it can be towed across the river to Able's yard, where the last rites can be administered.

It will be interesting to see how it proceeds.

 

Relieved to hear this. Nothing worse for a seafarer or maritime enthusiast than seeing a fine old ship left broken and rotting away

 

Always a sad time when a ship that has given so much service is broken up, I remember staying in Saltash in the late 70s and watching HMS Eagle leaving Plymouth for the last time being towed to Scotland for scrapping, it bought tears to my eyes.

 

Two ships that I served in on many occasions in the Nineties and Noughties have recently gone to Alang - one of them 'hit the beach' at the end of June last year at the age of 35; the other arrived off there only a couple of days ago; she was 29.

However, at least they'll get quick deaths; the poor old Dover has been lingering since 2011, when she was sunk at her moorings.

 

It is very sad to see these ships going for scrap but I don't think it is that feasible keeping them unless they can be kept in use. The costs are just too high. Even trying to run it as a nightclub seems to have failed long term.
If being used like the Waverley then you can charge passengers to travel on it and this pays the bills, but even with Waverley it still seems tough for them and they often have to find extra funds particularly for repair work.

A car ferry is also not going to excite anyone as much as say a military ship or Paddle Steamer. I wonder whether HMS Belfast covers its running costs or if there is continual injection of funds from the Imperial War Museum. ?

 

The mortal remains of TS "Dover" as seen from the Transporter Bridge yesterday (18/3/19).

 

Sad of course, but inevitable. Wonder how long before the 'Duke' goes the same way @ Mostyn?

 

Wasn't the TS Dover the previous "preservation project" by the same Ms Turner who has recently given up on the PS Ryde having collected a significant sum of money from, shall we say, gullible but well-meaning donors?
Ray.

 

It was indeed Ray. She's now moved on to HMS President. Anyone spot a pattern...?

Keith

 

The maritime version of Mr Reeder?

 

If she wants to preserve an interesting ship then perhaps she could persuade the Egyptian navy to part with either of their former Royal Navy WW2 vessels, Black Swan class frigate 'Whimbrel' or Z class destroyer 'Zenith'.
Unlike her previous efforts, both of these still float !

Bob.

 

What about this one

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mahrousa

Direct Drive Turbines!

 

Talking to the Pilot whilst departing Tees on my present ship the other day, it's still not confirmed that the hull will be shifted to the main Able UK yard for final demolition, but he did think that it would be the most likely outcome.

 

Failure is her forte?

 

And I suppose by that, you know the full story of the Dover.....or are you just assuming you know the whole story behind it and the "Ryde" scenario.

If you would care to delve more into I would be more than happy to hear your version of events....

Infact why don't we clear it up now, from horses mouth so to speak, I did NOT collect money for Dover, in fact there was the Dover steamship company whom was formed, richard moffatt and john coates. I came along in 2017, got her on the register for National Historic ships and because of various going ons for 10 years between coates and moffatt....the council didn't want to know. Six weeks after I got involved, closed door meeting between council and able uk....then she combusted herself...

RYDE....I had a proper surveyor, one whom is actually now working for national historic ships...and a marine company look at her, we raised money, I DIDN'T set up a go fund me page, it was a Daniel Broom, not myself. ALL money was donated correctly and properly....as go fund me have kindly provided proof....

You see, you are very keen to knock me down and slate me, but have you ever cared to ask the actual truth or just jumped on band wagon anyways without thinking....

 

Again, as mentioned above. Very kind of you to say such attacking words to someone whom you know nothing of but hearsay.

What a charming person you are! Isn't the heritage land lucky to have such a supportive person like yourself involved!

 

And what pattern would that be Keith?

Since you took your time to google me and apparently find zilch about me.

So kindly explain what pattern this would be. If you mean dealing with other peoples failures and messes then yes there is a good pattern there! If not then im afraid to disappoint you, but its not my failure....Its other peoples I just try and pick up the pieces like anyone who has a passion about maritime heritage would, at least I can say I tried, its easy to sit and judge someone from behind a computer screen.

 

May I suggest................

Historically a number of perfectly well organised railway preservation projects have, for whatever reason not 'come off'

From my limited experience of ship preservation, saving historic ships is significantly different to railways & unlike railway schemes - for example the GCR its very much 'all or nothing'

Without any proper analysis of what happened - or didnt I might be rather reticent to start making allegations - after all someone might be a repeat backer of impossible schemes or alternatively someone who looks carefully at a number of projects, investigates them wisely & decides not to proceed.

I gather that at least one famous ship was saved by a single person who managed to organise the rescue without actually sorting out how to pay for it afterwards!

 

Unfortunately when it comes to ships the "can it or can't it" will always be there.

When it comes to funding its always a case of how long is a piece of string, there is never any right amount or wrong amount of money to ask for. However there is always going to be stipulation around where money comes from.

In my case I couldn't win either way, I raised the money then donated it to medway queen and maid of the loch, but was instantly shot down afterwards, because I didnt apparently do things properly.

I had some of the marines leading experts involved which all told me to walk away. But if I walked away, then I failed Instantly. And I don't like failing, despite what people say.

I sat and talked to the proper people, historic ships being one, and we decided to try and save parts of the ship. But then when the contract was pulled , they didnt want my donations nor me involved.

Always two sides to a story, in my case I have a big heart and alot of love and dedication. But others like judging, its never a case of "well she tried, she failed but it was too late", its always "she ran off with the money and has done this before".