Page 1 of 1
Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 7:25 pm
by 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
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:15 pm
by 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
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:46 pm
by 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.
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:47 pm
by wully
wully wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:46 pm
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..
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:42 pm
by Aja
wully wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:46 pm
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
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:16 am
by 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
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:35 pm
by DaveS
BlowingOldBoots wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 8:31 pm
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.
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2025 12:02 pm
by BlowingOldBoots
Port Glasgow-built Falls of Clyde scuttled off Hawaiian coast. That's the end of that idea. A lot of good intentions, even possible solutions to move the boat for free and bring it Scotland but still it could not be made to happen.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn7 ... 20scuttled.
https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/new ... 1760768848
Re: Historic ship could return to the Clyde
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 7:34 pm
by BlowingOldBoots
Video of the boat’s removal including a still of the sinking. Also a narrative explaining why.
https://youtu.be/UJf3gtoBTxM?si=5sD--n4SxquOGA9s