WINCHAM to be scrapped

[Dalesman]

From today's Daily Post:

 

A MUCH-LOVED historic vessel is due to be scrapped next week after falling victim to a bitter feud between National Museums Liverpool (NML) and its members.

 

The preserved coastal cargo ship, Wincham, was moved from the Albert Dock a few weeks ago and is now on a slipway at a ship repair yard in Bromborough, where she will be broken up after being sold to a scrap dealer for around £5,000.

 

This is despite extensive restoration work being carried out following a £47,500 Lottery grant in 2001.

 

The Wincham has already been stripped of movable fittings and is now only a bare hulk.

 

The decision to scrap her was condemned by conservationists as “an unbelievable state of affairs”.

 

The estuarial coaster was owned by the Wincham Preservation Society, which was affiliated to and received most of its funding from the Friends of National Museums Liverpool.

 

But, when the 1,700-strong Friends group was disbanded in January, after relations between it and NML director Dr David Fleming broke down, the preservation society also lost its main source of income.

 

The society sold the Wincham for scrap after an annual survey found she would need £40,000 spent on her for essential repairs and maintenance, and to meet the cost of dry-docking facilities.

 

Discussions between the group and NML about converting the ship’s large hold into an educational “floating classroom” came to nothing.

 

A spokeswoman for the Friends said the ship’s fate showed that the consequences of the fall-out between the group and NML’s management were much bigger than originally thought.

 

Bruce Porter, secretary of the Wincham Preservation Society, said: “Some of our volunteers have been involved with the preservation society for 20 years and they’re heartbroken. It’s like losing a valuable personal possession.

 

“After a proposed sale to another charity fell through, the shipyard negotiated a sale with a scrap dealer. We have no money and we have had to say goodbye to the vessel. It’s a decision that was not taken lightly and has saddened us all.”

 

The MV Wincham plied the Mersey waterways carrying chemicals between the ICI’s former Runcorn plant and Liverpool docks.

 

When the Weaver packet reached the end of her commercial life, she was bought by the preservation society in 1982 and used to give demonstrations of cargo handling to schoolchildren.

 

Martyn Heighton, chairman of the UK's Historic Ship Register committee, said: "The scrapping of the historic Mersey estuarial coaster Wincham is an unbelievable state of affairs.

 

“Wincham is in the top 300 of the 1,200 ships in the UK National Historic Fleet Register. We have not been informed or consulted about Wincham's deconstruction.

 

“Owners are obliged to seek alternative ownership before considering scrapping.”

 

Tony Tibbles, director of Merseyside Maritime Museum, said; “National Museums Liverpool (NML) is disappointed to learn that the Wincham Preservation Society has decided to scrap MV Wincham.

 

“NML was willing to co-operate with others, and explore options for her future preservation.

 

“However, we understand the vessel has been sold for scrap and the dismantling process has already begun. NML was not consulted or informed about the results of the survey or the repair costs until after this decision was made.

 

[NB Alnwick]

Sadly these things happen when members of any organisation fall out or lose confidence in their direction. We may see more of this sort of thing if the recession continues - volunteers, themselves will feel the pinch and numbers will be depleted.

[Malarky]

Looks prety fire proof, stick her in some mudflats somewhere and fill with weekend ravers at sicksquid a ticket!

[Biggles]

So I might be shot down in flame but WTF. It don't look that special to me and everything has a life and death. Its the natural order. In a years time it will live on as a re-bar or tin can, car, work of art, who konws

 

If it was scrapped 18 months ago it would have been worth more. Scrap steel is on the floor now.

[stickleback]

After having £47,500 of lottery money spent on it, I should have thought there would be a moral if not a legal duty to proceed with restoration. What a disgrace, that our money can fall foul of personal disagreements.

 

Stickleback

[Timleech]

So I might be shot down in flame but WTF. It don't look that special to me and everything has a life and death. Its the natural order. In a years time it will live on as a re-bar or tin can, car, work of art, who konws

 

If it was scrapped 18 months ago it would have been worth more. Scrap steel is on the floor now.

 

The real issue is that by accepting lottery funding they accepted obligations and should not have summarily made the decision to scrap.

My understanding is that the yard did offer cheaper 'holding repairs' which could have allowed more time for a considered decision.

The Wincham is not the last of these vessels, but apart from the need for modest hull repairs was certainly the tidiest and most complete.

 

Tim

[NB Alnwick]

After having £47,500 of lottery money spent on it, I should have thought there would be a moral if not a legal duty to proceed with restoration. What a disgrace, that our money can fall foul of personal disagreements.

 

Stickleback

 

In the scheme of things £47,500 is not a lot of money - you would struggle to get a narrow boat professionally fitted out for less. The real reason for this failure appears to be dissent among the previously strong volunteer support group - with whom the project cannot succeed.

[stickleback]

In the scheme of things £47,500 is not a lot of money - you would struggle to get a narrow boat professionally fitted out for less. The real reason for this failure appears to be dissent among the previously strong volunteer support group - with whom the project cannot succeed.

But surely still no need to make a decision to scrap - it could be "put on hold" until issues are resolved or a new committee formed?

 

Stickleback

[carlt]

But surely still no need to make a decision to scrap - it could be "put on hold" until issues are resolved or a new committee formed?

'Putting a project on hold' is often as expensive, complicated and time consuming as getting on with the job.

[Hairy-Neil]

'Putting a project on hold' is often as expensive, complicated and time consuming as getting on with the job.

 

Strange to see you on the side of the scrappers. Different story had it been made of wood perhaps?

[Dalesman]

So I might be shot down in flame but WTF. It don't look that special to me and everything has a life and death. Its the natural order. In a years time it will live on as a re-bar or tin can, car, work of art, who konws

 

If it was scrapped 18 months ago it would have been worth more. Scrap steel is on the floor now.

You could say the same thing about HMS Victory the Cutty Sark, and the President, along with all the steam railways..!!

They are all part of our history, and this vessel was still a working model not stuck in a dry dock...It's a shame..

[carlt]

Strange to see you on the side of the scrappers. Different story had it been made of wood perhaps?

On the contrary, I believe that the money to be spent on building a pastiche of the pile of charred wood known as Cutty Sark should be redistributed to save this boat and hundreds of other more worthy boats, constructed of any material.

 

 

You could say the same thing about HMS Victory the Cutty Sark, and the President

Two boats that are beyond saving and one that may not even be the right boat.

 

Poor comparisons, I'm afraid.

[Hairy-Neil]

On the contrary, I believe that the money to be spent on building a pastiche of the pile of charred wood known as Cutty Sark should be redistributed to save this boat and hundreds of other more worthy boats, constructed of any material.

 

But no doubt you would be delighted if a pastiche were to be built from the pile of charred wood known as Usk....

[Malarky]

But no doubt you would be delighted if a pastiche were to be built from the pile of charred wood known as Usk....

Incidently how's that restoration going? Bet it gives a few insights into what takes priority!

[carlt]

But no doubt you would be delighted if a pastiche were to be built from the pile of charred wood known as Usk....

Can I keep the change, from the (so far) £35 million quid which will be spent on the "Sooty Lark"??

[Hairy-Neil]

Sadly as you imply I doubt there will be a bean to spare from this phase of the restoration.....

Edited April 19, 2009 by Hairy-Neil

[carlt]

Sadly as you imply I doubt there will be a bean to spare from this phase of the restoration.....

I meant, can I have the £35 million, rebuild Usk and then restore or rebuild hundreds of other boats (I'd even allocate £10 million to City of Adelaide, so we still have a clipper ship on the water).

 

For the sake of a few thousand pounds, or even, in many cases, just a place to stay, many historic boats and ships will be "deconstructed" yet one ship, beyond any hope of worthwhile restoration, let alone sailing again, is to receive all that money.

[Hairy-Neil]

Agreed Carl.

 

How would they come up with such a restoration figure if not by thinking of a number and doubling it several times.....

[knobbly]

Wincham could have been back on the River Mersey within a week and good for another twenty years of museum/ rally use for about £6k of repairs plus slipping charges, (which were already covered). A couple of doubler plates each side, properly applied would have done the job. The hull plating was mostly 10mill as could be seen when she was cut up. What a waste of years of work given fee of charge by volunteers. They said " she ran like a swing machine on the way to the slip". Not surprising as the ex deep sea Chief had spent 10 years going through everything and renovating it. She was in much better condition than when she was in commercial use by BCHS that is for sure. And much better than some commercial ships that dock every day in Liverpool having voyaged from all over the world. I think this is the soundest vessel I have ever seen scrapped. All very strange.

 

As for what signal it sends out regarding responsible attitudes to public money.......?

[Timleech]

Wincham could have been back on the River Mersey within a week and good for another twenty years of museum/ rally use for about £6k of repairs plus slipping charges, (which were already covered). A couple of doubler plates each side, properly applied would have done the job. The hull plating was mostly 10mill as could be seen when she was cut up. What a waste of years of work given fee of charge by volunteers. They said " she ran like a swing machine on the way to the slip". Not surprising as the ex deep sea Chief had spent 10 years going through everything and renovating it. She was in much better condition than when she was in commercial use by BCHS that is for sure. And much better than some commercial ships that dock every day in Liverpool having voyaged from all over the world. I think this is the soundest vessel I have ever seen scrapped. All very strange.

 

As for what signal it sends out regarding responsible attitudes to public money.......?

 

So WHO made the decision, and why was it so apparently hurried?

 

Tim

[DHutch]

Epic thread bump, but I still cant believe this happened.

 

 

Although sadly it feels like only a matter of time before Cuddington follows?