[BITList] Fwd: [IrishSeaShips] Re: NEWS: SS Shieldhall Could Be Scrapped!

[Michael Feltham]

Here is a comment on the appeal for funding for the SHIELDHALL

Mike
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Begin forwarded message:

From: "ade51" >
Date: 3 January 2011 15:03:07 GMT
To: IrishSeaShips at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IrishSeaShips] Re: NEWS: SS Shieldhall Could Be Scrapped!
Reply-To: IrishSeaShips at yahoogroups.com

It never ceases to amaze me how our maritime heritage is held in such contempt by central government, local government and probably the general public as well. We all realise that not everything we want saved for the nation can be saved and that public money is tighter than ever. But to think that a working preserved vessel such as the Shieldhall could be broken up for the lack of funds is astounding, especially as she is on the Historic Ships Register core group. It begs the question what is the point of the Register?
Even Waverley and Balmoral, which work hard throughout the summer months to make ends meet, always seem to be on a knife edge, despite the support of the PSPS. 
The railway preservation scene never seems to have the same problems as the maritime scene does. Surely there is an organisation, private or public, that can help the Shieldhall raise what is in effect about the equivalent of 2 weeks wages for premiership footballers. If not, I'm afraid the priorities of our country are sadly upside down.
Adrian

--- In IrishSeaShips at yahoogroups.com, "Groups" <groups at ...> wrote:
>
> Daily Echo
> 7:30am Sunday 2nd January 2011
> 
> TIME is running out in the campaign to save a historic steamship, writes
> Emma Streatfield.
> 
> It is feared that Hampshire-based SS Shieldhall – described as an
> important part of Britain's maritime heritage – could be scrapped if
> vital funds cannot be found.
> 
> As reported by the Daily Echo in November, an emergency appeal has been
> launched to save the vessel.
> 
> The largest remaining sea-going steamship, based at the Port of
> Southampton, needs its MoT next spring at a cost of £80,000, without
> which it will be refused a licence to sail and will be broken up.
> 
> The deadline inspection date is May.
> 
> Built in 1955, SS Shieldhall gives cruises in the Solent and along the
> south coast of England and is operated by a fully qualified crew
> together with a shore-based support staff, all of whom are unpaid
> volunteers.
> 
> It is a working example of ship machinery above and below deck that is
> representative of cargo and passenger ships at sea from the 1870s until
> the 1960s.
> 
> Since 2009, it has been the flagship of the National Historic Ships, a
> collection of vessels which also includes HMS Victory, Cutty Sark, the
> former Royal Yacht Britannia, and the paddle steamer Waverley.
> 
> The repairs include fuel to take the vessel to a Falmouth shipyard, the
> docking itself and the maintenance work.
> 
> Despite applying for more than 30 grants, so far this has proved
> unsuccessful.
> 
> The charity which runs the ship, The Solent Steam Packet Ltd, is behind
> the on-going appeal.
> 
> Managing director Graham Mackenzie said it relied solely on revenue from
> fares and donations to survive.
> 
> He said: "Without emergency funding, the historic SS Shieldhall will
> lose her passenger certificate and therefore her main source of income.
> 
> "There may be little choice but to send her to the breaker's yard.
> 
> "This is devastating news for a sea-faring nation and a tragic legacy to
> leave our children."
> 
> • For more information visit ss-shieldhall.co.uk.
>

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