Warship Management Ltd

TRISTAN NICHOLS MARITIME AND DEFENCE REPORTER

07:30 - 15 November 2007

Former city MP Lord Owen has outlined his vision to bring HMS Plymouth back to the city to form part of a national Falklands War Museum.The outspoken figure spoke of his desire to bring back the frigate - which played a key role in the Falklands conflict - during a tour of the vessel, presently berthed in Birkenhead.

Also, speaking earlier this week at the launch of Making Plymouth Great at the start of National Enterprise Week, Lord Owen said: “HMS Plymouth was built at Devonport Royal Dockyard and served with great distinction in the Falklands.

“Indeed, her captain, David Pentreath, took the surrender of South Georgia in the ship’s Wardroom.

“As a former Navy Minister, Foreign Secretary and local MP, I believe this ship represents much of what makes Plymouth great on the international stage and I welcome Warship Management Limited’s proposal to return her to her home port. I believe the benefits to tourism will be very significant.”

LAST week, Lord Owen - who was IN Liverpool TO hand out degree awards IN his role AS Chancellor OF Liverpool University - was taken FOR a tour OF the disused shipyard AT Birkenhead.

During the visit, he said he hoped TO have the TYPE 12 frigate towed TO a TEMPORARY berth AT the Plymouth City Council-owned Commercial Wharf ON the Barbican, LEADING eventually TO a Falklands War museum AND memorial being based there.

He said the long-term VIEW was TO transfer the frigate TO South Yard, leaving the positive legacy OF a fine deep berth IN the Cattewater FOR future maritime use.

HMS Plymouth campaigners Warship Management Limited ARE working ON a plan TO see the idea come TO fruition.

The move comes AS the HMS Plymouth Association reveals it has raised MORE than £20,000 towards bringing the vessel back TO Plymouth AND IS now awaiting news OF a suitable berth. It IS believed it will cost around £100,000 TO buy the ship AND tow her back TO Plymouth.

Malcolm Bell, chief executive OF South West Tourism, said he valued the benefits OF bringing the frigate TO its namesake city.

He said: “We would love to see this ship in Plymouth, because as it says at the railway station: ‘Plymouth - the Home of the Navy’ and many of our visitors from the UK and overseas would expect to visit at least one warship as part of their time here.”

Andrew Robertson, managing director OF the NATIONAL Marine Aquarium, added: “If HMS Plymouth can come back to a berth near the Aquarium, the synergies between the two marine attractions will be enormous.

“This proposal has REAL vision AND I strongly support it.”

HMS Plymouth played a crucial role in the 1982 Falklands war. After leaving active service in 1989, it was due to be sunk as a missile target, but campaigners saved it as a national memorial to Britons who died in the South Atlantic conflict. The frigate has since been on public display in Plymouth, Glasgow and Birkenhead, where it was given a dry dock home.

But in early 2006, its berth there was needed for a shoreside redevelopment and the owners at that time, the Warship Preservation Trust, went into administration.

Ownership transferred to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, which now wants to sell the frigate.

Warship Management Limited, which was set up last year to negotiate the purchase and movement of the vessel, has met with the board.

A Plymouth City Council spokesman said the authority welcomed the idea, stating: “We have said before that, AS a council, we acknowledge the continued efforts OF Warship Management Limited TO bring HMS Plymouth TO the city.

“In the right location, and supported by a business plan that shows the ship can be suitably interpreted and maintained, HMS Plymouth would add to attractions available to visitors to the city.”

He said the council was NOT aware OF calls FOR a museum TO commemorate the Falklands conflict, but added: “It is an interesting idea and we look forward to hearing more details of how this might be achieved.”

Nov 7 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

ONE of the remaining historic warships in Birkenhead could have a new home in the town she was named after.

HMS Plymouth had been part of the warship collection in Birkenhead docks, which closed two years ago when it lost its funding.

Other ships, such as the submarine HMS Onyx, which has gone to Barrow, and U534, which will form the centrepiece of an attraction at Woodside, have new homes ready or in preparation.

Argentine forces in South Georgia signed their surrender in the wardroom of HMS Plymouth.

The frigate was one of the first Navy ships to arrive in the South Atlantic after the Argentine invasion.

Yesterday Lord Owen, who as Chancellor of Liverpool University was in the region to hand out degree awards, was taken for a tour.

As MP for Plymouth, and a former minister of the Navy from 1968-70, he had taken great interest in her fate.

He said he hopes to have the ship towed to a temporary berth at Plymouth, leading eventually to a Falklands War museum and memorial there.

Lord Owen said the Falklands conflict had been the “last great naval battle” and added: “It’s absolutely scandalous that there IS NOT a museum TO remind people.”