MV Wincham to be scrapped by National Museums Liverpool

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. continues

What!?!

I knew NML were obtuse but my god. Is there anyway we can hijack the Wincham and claim it back for the city? Its probably too late now.

What's the point in having a maritime museum if NML don't want anything nautical in the docks. Its bad enough they won't take on Planet. What's next? will they get rid of the old pilot ship and De Wadden?

Nice to see a museum tries really hard to preserve old things

bit late to do anything as its now at the former mctay marine yard now mersey heritage ship repair and is in the process of being scrapped. heres the sorty from the excelent irishseashipping site. :PDT_Xtremez_42:

WINCHAM PRESERVATION SOCIETY

Many visitors to this web site will be familiar with the preserved "Weaver Packet" WINCHAM which has been a feature of the Mersey Maritime Museum environs for many years. Several years ago the vessel was in receipt of a Heritage Lottery Grant to further her restoration. On April 01, Ian Collard photographed her heading up river towards the slipway at the Bromborough Shipyard (formerly McTay Marine and now operated by Mersey Heritage Ship Repair) [click here]. The photo (c) John Eyres, shows WINCHAM stripped of fittings and awaiting the scrap man.

Sadly it appears that this was the WINCHAM's last voyage. Rumours were circulating of he iminent demise just over a week ago - this ha snow been confirmed in the following report in the 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 WINCHAM, was moved from the Albert Dock a few weeks ago and is now on a slipway at a ship repair yard in Brombrough, 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.

Martin 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.?

Sadly I have seen a photograph of the ship in the latter part of the week - it is well beyond the point of no return as the scrap dealer has wasted no time in despatching her.

As someone who has been interested in transport almost all my life one must ask why the Wincham Preservation Society acted so hastily. Usually when such groups have difficulties a local / national appearl follows often featured in mainstream and specialist press.

Nothing of the sort happened. She was a functioning vessel on April 2, 2009 when she sailed to Bromborough for what was believed to be a routine survey
and now less than a month later she is a pile of scrap.

The museums obviously are partly to blame - they can find millions to debase the Maritime Museum and reduce the maritime coverage in favour of slavery - which could have been housed in the William Brown Street complex.

Then they get funding for the Museum of Liverpool [Flemings Folly] Life yet they can't find a few thousand (not millions!) to save an attractive little ship which has graced our waterfront for the last 25 years or so.

Shame on them and shame on the WPS as well.

John

UNESCO said, Liverpool has historic dock, but no historic ships. Well as much of the historic docks have been given over to canal barge ways by reducing the depth, ;precluding sea going vessels, there is few places to put historic ships.

So, we may as well let Peel do what the hell they like and fill all the waters in and be done with it and make the city like Birmingham.

I would shoot many on the city council for allowing this to happen.

I wish someone had shot the entire Militant Tendency vandals who destroyed
one of Liverpool's grandest treasures, The Sailors Home.