Historic ship could return to the Clyde

[Nick]

Save Falls of Clyde International is battling to rescue the iconic vessel, which was built in Port Glasgow in 1878.

The last surviving four-masted iron hull sailing ship in the world is currently afloat in Honolulu harbour in Hawaii, but under threat of being scrapped.

http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news ... e/?ref=rss

[BlowingOldBoots]

As a regeneration project that transforms into a maritime tourist attraction in a depressed area, the Scottish Government should fund the operation to hire the heavy lift vessel and bring her back to Port Glasgow.

The Scottish Maritime history is in need of a complete overhaul and perhaps some consolidation. For example a A Maritime History Trail could be built from Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire with web sight and promotion linking all the maritime attractions. Far better than the NC500 approach which is nothing short of lazy tourism promotion with very little tangible additional benefit.

The maritime history of Scotland is rich and interesting and sadly under exploited. We have space in many of the old docks still sitting around underused (or even just abandoned), we have an existing infrastructure which in some cases needs funds to maintain.

[BlowingOldBoots]

I wonder if this will ever come to be.

Latest news, from January 2020 http://www.friendsoffallsofclyde.org/ships-log

February has been a quiet month. On the positive side, we found that the Harbors Division has dropped the $1.5 million performance bond requirement for anyone who wants to move the Falls of Clyde out of Honolulu Harbor. This is a new opening for Save Falls of Clyde International. Unfortunately, Save Falls of Clyde International’s owner, David O’Neill, tried to bully Governor Ige through Facebook, which was unfortunate.
FFOC was contacted by a writer from Honolulu Magazine about publishing an article in the next couple of months that will be a positive for the ship and our efforts to save her.

[BlowingOldBoots]

Latest news on the Falls of Clyde. The Mail Chimp link allows you to subscribe to receive news updates.

https://www.foci.scot

https://mailchi.mp/3f6d19cef303/falls-o ... 2SLayPVqfQ

Falls of Clyde International have now secured a major company for the design and implementation of the engine and propulsion system. ABB Marine & Ports will be leading the main development of the ship as, using modern technology, they take it from disrepair to a fully-functional sailing platform. ABB states “We believe that the next generation of ships will be electric, digital and connected, as the industry moves towards new energy sources and autonomous ship operations.”

[BlowingOldBoots]

Reported in the Sunday Herald 21 November 2021

Apparently it has been agreed that a bid to take over ownership of the The Falls of Clyde has been won by the Glasgow based charity Falls of Clyde International. There are a few hurdles to overcome yet that require certain USA legal requirements to be met. Once ownership is transferred they will have 190 days to remove the vessel from the quay side.

The vessel is unfit to be moved, never mind transferred across two oceans. The plan is to get her into a condition that will allow either a floating dock or heavy lift ship to piggy back The Falls of Clyde and bring her to Glasgow. There are all sorts of grand claims being made that she will be converted into a working sailing ship and show case all things carbon neutral while trading around the world.

The Govan graving docks are being considered, but they are currently beyond economical repair. All sorts of eco tourist community love fest economic industrial saving villages are being considered with a maritime and Falls Company museum, subject to consultations with the local councils from Troon to Glasgow. The fact that our current maritime heritage is ignored appears to not be relevant in the charity's considerations.

It's a joke. At best it will consume a lot of money and fail to realise anyone ambitions. At worst it will end up scrapped after consuming a lot of money. While the vision of The Falls of Clyde International is laudable, the world is in a bit of a mess and is looking forward, not backwards and wondering.

Good luck, hope I am wrong.

Nothing on their website yet, I guess they are bricking it now they have actually got to do something about it. https://www.foci.scot
Announced on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/savefallsofclyde/
Donate here but check first, as its not clear who and where the actual company is that is the beneficiary https://www.foci.scot/donation?fbclid=I ... QiXOfoKpgg

[Aja]

If only they had acted quicker they could have used Inchgreen dry-dock in Greenock which had been lying empty for ten or so years.

Unfortunately, a wonderful opportunity has now come along, supported by owners, Peel Ports - using the unique qualities found on Clydeside where apparently dismantling ships using the same skills as building ships is to be found in abundance.

Yes. Clydeside is going into direct competition to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and India in the breakers business.

If I remember, even Tyneside many moons ago, was up in arms about the clearance of asbestos from derelict ships.

Donald

[wully]

Is Tyneside not dismantling redundant oil production platforms now?

Got to say I’m not getting the whole preservation of old buildings, machines, ships and stuff. Why? We have photos, can now build better. Seems strange to me to spend a fortune on stuff that no longer serves a purpose and will just moulder away at a slower rate with tourists tramping around for a while.

[wully]

Is Tyneside not dismantling redundant oil production platforms now?

Got to say I’m not getting the whole preservation of old buildings, machines, ships and stuff. Why? We have photos, can now build better. Seems strange to me to spend a fortune on stuff that no longer serves a purpose and will just moulder away at a slower rate with tourists tramping around for a while. If it was going to be put back into use as a sailing ship on the ocean then OK..

[BlowingOldBoots]

You can say that again, Wully.

I get the preservation idea if it is the last of something or a special case of something, but not just for the sake of it, which may be the case here. If they want to sail around the world sustainably trading, I agree they could build a better sailing ship today, likely at lower cost.

The web site has no details, even at a high level beyond buy boat, bring to Scotland, it is full of good intentions. But what os the ocean plastic harvesting all about? The passage back is in 8 legs, why? The organisers are an odd lot beyond a couple of the positions. It looks to me, that funds will be used to pay American workers.

More aspirational that details in the Sunday Post https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/falls-of-clyde-ship/

[Aja]

Is Tyneside not dismantling redundant oil production platforms now?

Got to say I’m not getting the whole preservation of old buildings, machines, ships and stuff. Why? We have photos, can now build better. Seems strange to me to spend a fortune on stuff that no longer serves a purpose and will just moulder away at a slower rate with tourists tramping around for a while.

...along with Kishorn and the rest....

Donald

[Gardenshed]

"we just need to replate the hull and redesign the interior for future use"
dream on.....
I love the industrial heritage of shipbuilding and the achievements of the Clyde yards, but reality is that there is limited if any interest in keeping ships like this alive.
The proposal is a box ticking list of currently popular themes (eco, training, social inclusion, carbon neutrality, circular economy), all of which are commendable but as a project makes no sense. There is more apathy than sympathy from the public so it's extremely unlikely that this will get enough on going support to be viable. That's bad enough if the vessel is in Scotland and visible, even less likely if its out of sight on the oceans of the world carbon neutrally trading or recovering ghost nets or doing any of the other proposed activities

[DaveS]

You can say that again, Wully.

I get the preservation idea if it is the last of something or a special case of something, but not just for the sake of it, which may be the case here. If they want to sail around the world sustainably trading, I agree they could build a better sailing ship today, likely at lower cost.

The web site has no details, even at a high level beyond buy boat, bring to Scotland, it is full of good intentions. But what os the ocean plastic harvesting all about? The passage back is in 8 legs, why? The organisers are an odd lot beyond a couple of the positions. It looks to me, that funds will be used to pay American workers.

More aspirational that details in the Sunday Post https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/falls-of-clyde-ship/

My understanding is that Falls of Clyde is the world's last remaining iron hulled sailing ship.

[BlowingOldBoots]

My understanding is that Falls of Clyde is the world's last remaining iron hulled sailing ship.

The Glenlee is a steel hulled sailing ship. On the Clyde now and Clyde built.

https://www.thetallship.com/