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Posted by David Edwards (81.130.107.221) on 12:19:36 10/06/05
In Reply to: Poor old girl! posted by Jamie Green
Mark Young and I have tried to deal with the owner and come up with two sensible suggestions, which were properly formalised and costed. The basis of ownership would have been a charitable trust and society. Much work was done. Here is a resume:
Following a visual site inspection 18 or more months ago by two specialist firms (including George Prior - the firm that restored the Waverley - who have since closed down) we then arranged for a more detailed survey by engineers from a larger international commercial firm capable of such a restoration. Our intent being to establish if a restoration was feasible in principle and part of that exercise was to visually inspect and assess the state of the vessels frame, keel and the engine.
It was established that a further fully detailed study with specialised equipment needs to be done at a cost of circa £16,000 to decide upon the level of repairs needed to float the vessel (no simple task due to the risk of further keel and frame distortion) and to design a general methodology of the same so that the vessel can be moved to a shipyard without any further damage. The study would also consider the feasibility of restoration. These procedures would be necessary to obtain capital funding from lottery or other public sources. We would then need a proper business plan. This could cost a further £30,000 or more. Again a commercially prepared plan would be needed to convince any would-be funder.
So in round terms at least £40k is needed to get the ball rolling before we move at all. Then the funds to effect stabilisation of the funnel, superstructure, plates, temporary frame and deck repairs will need to be found. Digging out the dock and breaching the sea wall (and to repair it afterwards) will also cost some money.
However, unless the present owner wishes and can be persuaded to part with the vessel, no matter how many trusts and committees are set up, or how many studies we have funded there is nothing that can be done. Ownership is the key and without that key this ship will be staying on its present quay at the marina.
Frivolous and ill thought out approaches have been made by some others in the recent past which as far as we know have all been rejected out of hand and quite rightly so.
There can be no doubt that this ships cause will not be assisted by people making such approaches as it creates the wrong image and makes much more work for those who put up properly thought out projects in trying to be considered as serious contenders to run such a major project.
Yes I agree with you on the principle but there is no point in being wasteful of resources and time. Are you aware of the restoration costs or indeed the costs of removal? Restoration would be a large sum of money measured in millions, the cost of survey, temporary repairs and then moving the vessel to a yard probably circa £100k. To prepare a bid for this we would need to fund a professional business plan etc. Cost about £30k or perhaps £50k to be on the safe side. I believe that the Medway Queen group spent £40k recently on their business plan and despite that they were not successful in their bid for funding. Hopefully they may succeed in the near future.
If you have any suggestions as to how to raise the initial funding required Mark Young would be very pleased to hear from you. However ownership will still be a prerequisite.
D Edwards
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