Liquidators cast historic warships collection adrift
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006By Kate Mansey Liverpool Daily Post Staff - Mar 15 2006
MERSEYSIDE’S troubled historic warships collection suffered a new blow yesterday AS the ships were effectively abandoned.The prestigious Wirral collection was disclaimed by liquidators, which means the ships belong TO the Crown AND the fate OF the ships - including veterans FROM the Falklands war - IS now TO be decided by the LOCAL authority.
Pamela Brown, a former trustee OF the Warships Trust, said: “Essentially the vessels have been abandoned but can not be scrapped as many contain asbestos.
“It IS particularly sad especially AS NEXT YEAR it will be 25 years since the Falklands war.”
Historic Warships at Birkenhead closed to the public on February 5 and liquidators took over the ships shortly after.
Talks are still continuing over the future of the German U-boat which is not part of the main collection.
Representatives from its Danish owners, Den Bla Avis, travelled to Wirral after the museum closed to discuss where it will be placed.
The vessel was one of the last U-boats sunk by the Allies in 1945. It was raised from the sea bed 48-years-later.
Other vessels in the collection include two Falklands conflict veterans, the frigate HMS Plymouth and submarine HMS Onyx.
Another ship, the former Mersey Bar lightship Planet, will be moved to Vittoria Dock, Birkenhead.
Sir Philip Goodhart, founder and former chairman of Historic Warships at Birkenhead, said the museum would stay shut to the public this summer and said it was possible that bids for the collection could begin in the coming months.
He said: “I am reasonably hopeful that the collection will be kept together AND I hope that it will be IN Merseyside.
“The matter of funding for the U534 is more delicate and I very much hope that she will stay here as there can be no doubt that Merseyside is the right place for this unique historic memory of the battle of the Atlantic.
“The U534 IS NOT part OF the main collection AND IS independently owned.”
The collection of 20th century ships had been open to visitors for 12 years before its closure.
At the time around 11 members of staff were made redundant.
The collection of warships has been in trouble since plans for the conversion of a nearby corn warehouse into luxury flats were outlined.
Liquidators Parkin S Booth were in charge of the ships until they disclaimed them.