Race is on to throw sinking ships a lifeline

From the archive, first published Wednesday 25th Jan 2006.

REGENERATION staff are pulling out all the stops to rescue Wirral's closure-threatened warships museum.

Last week's surprise announcement that the East Float-based Warship Preservation Trust planned to place the operation into voluntary liquidation sent shock waves across the peninsula.

But David Ball, Wirral Council's head of regeneration, insisted: "Hopefully all is not lost. We have met the company and the receivers and we are looking at a number of things. But we need further information which may take us one way or the other."

Mr Ball revealed that the trust was not going into liquidation until February 17 - the date a creditors' meeting was due to be held.

He said the council had been given to understand that 11 museum staff, whose jobs were under threat, had not been given their notices - but council officers were on stand-by to help them find new jobs if it became necessary.

Mr Ball said: We are trying to explore all possibilities. We need time to look at the issues - we are giving it high priority."

The warships museum - which includes veterans from the Falklands War and the German U-Boat U534 - has been operating at a loss for a number of years despite the support of wealthy benefactor Sir Philip Goodhart.

Sir Philip is withdrawing his financial backing because he is retiring.

In addition the ships have been allocated a new berth at Wirral docklands due to moves to develop the Grade-II listed former corn warehouses, where they currently lie, into luxury apartments.

A transfer operation would cost in the region of £250,000.

The trust has also been told that because of the age of vessels some would need dry dock work to be carried out on the hulls at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.

Mr Ball said: "The council is very concerned about the position and we are doing all we can to look for a positive future for the vessels.

"The warships will have to be moved and the cost is an issue for the council under the berthing agreement.

"The fundamental issue is the viability of the trust."

A fresh berth for the warships has been offered by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company at Mortar Mill Quay - about 100 yards from the present location.

Sir Philip, who is chairman of the trust, said the loss of what is the finest collection of 20th century warships in the country, was "a calamity for our maritime heritage."

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