'Save the Waverley' paddle steamer appeal launched
Supporters of the last ocean-going paddle steamer have launched an appeal to raise £2.3m for major repairs.
The Waverley's 2019 excursion season had to be cancelled following the discovery of serious problems with its boilers. The operators said the 73-year-old ship needed the marine equivalent of "open heart surgery". Enthusiasts and politicians gathered at Glasgow's Pacific Quay to mark the official start of fundraising. Named after Sir Walter Scott's debut novel, the ship was built just after World War Two as a replacement for a vessel sunk during the Dunkirk evacuation. In 1975, at the end of its working life, it was bought for £1 by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. For generations of Scots it has been a familiar sight, offering "doon the watter" trips along the west coast, carrying 130,00 passengers a year. The discovery of serious problems with the boilers earlier this year meant this is the first time since 1812 there has been no paddle steamer operating off Britain's coast. Operators Waverley Excursions Ltd said the iconic red, white and black twin funnels would have to be lifted off, and large sections of decking removed to allow the boilers and other equipment to be lifted out. The replacement boilers are expected to extend Waverley's operational life by a further 20 to 25 years. The Waverley - facts and figures Paul Semple, who heads the team which operates the ship said £100,000 had been donated already to the appeal. "We're heartened by the support so far - it's clear that huge numbers of people around Britain and around the world want to see Waverley sail again," he said. "But the financial challenge which faces Waverley remains very significant, and we urgently need more funds to let us place the orders and then carry out the work over the next nine months." In recent weeks, the organisers have drawing up detailed plans and costings for the repairs. Mr Semple he was determined not to allow the ship to become a "static relic". "Waverley's truly unique status as the world's last seagoing paddle steamer mustn't be taken for granted," he said. "Not for the first time, the future of the ship hangs in the balance. Once again, it's time to save the Waverley."