Warship Management Ltd

The Herald - Helen Collis
FIVE of the highest ranking naval officers who served during the Falklands War have signed a letter stressing the importance of preserving a Westcountry warship in her home city.
Captain David Pentreath, Commanding Officer of HMS Plymouth in 1982, has written the letter, which highlights the uncertain future of the victorious war ship 25 years after she played a pivotal role in the conflict.

The letter is undersigned by Captain Michael Clapp, Commander of the Falklands Amphibious Task Force, Vice Admiral Sir John Coward, Commanding Officer of HMS Brilliant 1982, Admiral . Sir Jeremy Black, Commanding Officer of HMS Invincible 1982 and Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward, Commander of the Falklands Carrier Battle Group.

In his letter, Captain Pentreath writes that the future of HMS Plymouth, which was scheduled to berthed at the city’s Millbay docks AS a tourist attraction, has been “thrown into disarray” since the area’s new development plans do not cater for it.

“Our concern is that this historic ship, which has a proven track record as a successful visitor attraction, cannot be allowed to fade away from the public eye for want of a berth, particularly in this 25th anniversary year.”

Captain Pentreath highlights some of the historical events that the ship encountered during the conflict: the surrender of Argentinian forces in South Georgia was signed in her wardroom; she was present in the San Carlos landings; she was damaged by bombs defending the anchorage; she was the first warship to re-enter Port Stanley; and she was one of very few ships to have been involved in every action throughout the campaign.

He added: “All those who take pride in our great maritime heritage will recognise the importance of HMS Plymouth again securing a berth in Plymouth so that she can play her rightful part in the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Falklands Campaign and become a unique and much-needed maritime asset and tourist attraction in the Westcountry.”

In 1988, HMS Plymouth was saved for the nation as a memorial for the seafarers who lost their lives in the South Atlantic. Since 1992 she has been docked in the Mersey but her berth will soon expire due to developments.

HMS Plymouth was launched from Devonport docks in 1959 and therefore she will be eligible for funds from the National Historic Ships Committee 50 years on, in 2009.

At the start of the year it was announced she could once again return to Millbay docks in Plymouth, owned by Associated British Ports. But now the firm has decided it cannot afford to berth her owing to the area’s regeneration plans.
Captain Clapp, FROM Totnes, said: “If they are ever going to provide a home for her it really should be in Plymouth, which is where a berth was promised, so we are slightly miffed.”
He said HMS Plymouth “did wonders” IN the conflict, staying IN the highly dangerous “bomb alley” almost the entire TIME.
Sir Sandy added: “It does seem strange that a ship called Plymouth has little interest to the city after which she was named. It will be up to the managers at Plymouth City Council whether she returns to her home.”
Plymouth City Council was yesterday unavailable FOR comment.

The Herald 26 January 2007
WILLIAM TELFORD INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR
 
Ambitious plans are being drawn up to build a £35million marine sciences centre on the derelict Trinity Pier at Millbay, The Herald can reveal.Talks are already at a highly advanced stage and consultants are due to present a report on the proposal to project partners next month.If the centre gets approval it could be built by 2009.It would contain labs for studying climate change and sea level rises and reinforce Plymouth as a major international player in marine research.The Marine Sciences Centre is expected to have a huge impact on the city’s economy, by staging conferences, helping fledgling businesses AND providing high-paid new posts FOR scientists.The exact cost has NOT been finalised but IS ‘multi-million’. Sources put it AT around £35million.

 
Funding would come FROM private AND PUBLIC sources, including the Government AND European UNION, mainly IN the form OF research grants.

There ARE also plans TO link the centre WITH a sought-after berth FOR cruise liners, which would bring tourist pounds INTO the city.

Mark Cleary, acting vice-chancellor AT the University OF Plymouth, called it an “exciting and fantastic” project.

He said: “The aim is to establish Plymouth as a major international centre for marine sciences.”

The university IS one OF four partners behind the idea.

The others, ALL city based, ARE the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Marine Biological Society AND the Alister Hardy Foundation FOR Ocean Science.

The project would “physically and functionally” link ALL four together.

Talks ARE under way WITH Associated British Ports (ABP), leaseholder OF the land, AND the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), which has funded consultants TO study the proposal IN-depth AND could ultimately provide SOME OF the scheme’s finance.

The consultants, DTZ, give their ‘options appraisal’ report next month.

They have been examining a range of options centring on the ‘preferred OPTION’ of putting the marine sciences centre on the pier, and keeping open the West Hoe base of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

If the report backs the idea, the four partners will press ahead. Talks are already under way with Plymouth City Council and the developers in charge of the neighbouring Clyde Quay area: English Cities Fund and English Partnerships.

The partners have already engaged an architect to envisage how the waterside building would look.

It is hoped to create a 10,500 sqm, three-storey, partly open-plan, centre on the 150m long pier. It would mean demolishing the current warehouse.

This would include offices, ‘wet AND dry’ labs, classrooms, a library and conference facilities, where post-graduate research and teaching could be carried out.

The partners would then move staff into the building, and create new posts.

The university’s director OF research AND innovation Julian Beer said these would be “highly-paid, sustainable jobs”.

Mr Cleary said: “We are confident we are creating something that would be able to secure significant amounts of research funding.”

And Mr Beer added: “We aim to attract commercial partners.”

Outside the building there would be berthing facilities FOR small boats, so boffins can carry out research AT sea.

The PUBLIC would have access TO SOME areas.

Last YEAR, The Herald revealed that ABP was looking AT a £3million plan TO CREATE berthing facilities FOR 200-metre cruise liners TO dock AT Trinity Pier.

This plan would fit WITH the marine science proposal AND the berth could even make Plymouth one OF the few places IN the country able TO dock huge scientific research vessels.

But the proposal would mean there would be NO room FOR warship enthusiasts TO base the ex-Falklands War frigate HMS Plymouth AT the pier.

Talks have been held BETWEEN ABP AND HMS Plymouth campaigners Warship Management Ltd, AND it IS understood an alternative home FOR the ship IS being sought.

A meeting will be held again NEXT week.