HOW CAN WE BE A MARITIME AND Mercantile World Heritage Site and build EMPTY flats all over the WHS, and AT THE SAME TIME scrap one of our historic ships. ALL NML CURRENT FUNDING IS BOUND FOR THE NEW MUSEUM IT SEEMS, THE ONE TRACK MINDS AT NML NEED TO THINK LONG AND HARD ABOUT THIS DISASTER.SOME-ONE SHOULD BE FLOGGED FOR THIS.
IS THIS A CASE LIVERPOOL MUSEUMS DESTROY ING ANOTHER PIECE OF OUR HISTORY? WHY DID THEY STEP ASIDE FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY.
PICTURE TAKEN IN 1984.
Historic vessel MV Wincham for scrap
Apr 17 2009 by Alan Weston, Liverpool 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.”
Apr 17 2009 by Alan Weston, Liverpool 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.”
Posts
Humm...Who is this "director?" What a legacy he leaves behind!...Reminds me of the newspaper Buffalo New's editorial opposition for saving the stmr. Canadiana, once a grand excursion vessel servicing Buffalo, NY (USA.) (Think of your stmr. Waverley)...What a shame!
ReplyDeleteRep. Steven Lindsey
Ches-3
Keene, NH, USA
SteveLindsey60@hotmail.com
Sad
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredible state of affairs. Whilst the Museums have some blame - the WPS must sharre it equallly.
ReplyDeleteWhere was the public appeal for funds in the mainstream press?
Where was the appeal in the specialised nautical and heritage press.
From a functioning ship to a growing pile of scrap at Bromborough in less than a month!