HOMECOMING OF SHIP CALLED OFF AFTER BERTH IS WITHDRAWN
Friday, February 2nd, 200711:00 - 02 February 2007
The “homecoming” of an historic warship which served in the Falklands has been cancelled after an offer of a berth in Plymouth was withdrawn.The Navy frigate, HMS Plymouth, was bombed four times by Argentine forces during the Falklands war, but never sank.
Yet despite her distinguished history, the very future of the ship now hangs in the balance.
The ship, which is docked at Birkenhead, Merseyside, was due to be brought to Plymouth as a visitor attraction this year.
However, Associated British Ports (ABP), which runs the Millbay Docks in Plymouth, has withdrawn the offer of a place to moor the ship.
It said the space was needed for the intended redevelopment of Trinity Pier, with plans for a £35 million marine sciences centre to be built on the site.
Former Royal Navy officer Mike Critchley is part of the group that intended to buy the ship to bring it to Plymouth.
He said: “The whole team, who have put hundreds of hours voluntarily into purchasing and relocating HMS Plymouth to the city, are frankly stunned.
“It is sad for the team, the city, thousands of potential visitors this summer and, most importantly, those whose loved ones are remembered in the chapel onboard HMS Plymouth.”
Mr Critchley added that it was heartbreaking to be facing this situation in the 25th anniversary year of the Falklands conflict.
A spokesman for ABP said it had never made a firm offer to provide a berth for the ship.
He said: “We regret being unable to accommodate the vessel, but it is not possible following the acceleration of the Trinity Pier development.”