SS Shieldhall still defying the odds
The charity volunteers fighting to save SS Shieldhall continue in their quest for additional financial and material support.
Visitors to the Seawork exhibition will not be strangers to SS Shieldhall, the largest surviving 1950’s seagoing steamship operated by volunteers in the UK, or their efforts to keep the vessel alive.
In June of this year, MJ reported that despite volunteers raising an impressive £80,000 to fund Shieldhall’s bi-annual inspection in drydock, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyor detected extensive corrosion of some frames below the engine room deck-plates. The result was that passenger sailings are suspended until repairs can be funded and carried out.
Whilst this was a major disappointment to supporters, the charity Solent Steam Packet Ltd,which was set up by a group of enthusiasts to run SS Shieldhall in 1988, has vowed to fight on and get the ship sailing again, retaining a vital part of the UK’s maritime heritage.
The aim is to get the repairs done over winter and get the passenger certificate back in time for April 2012, the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure from Southampton. Shieldhall may be smaller and less grandiose than its famous counterpart, but it did generate a lot of interest during its second appearance at Seawork this year.
Since then, there has been support for the ship from the commercial sector. ABP has been helping to support the charity’s activities in terms of its berthing and fundraising activities, and Williams Shipping has donated the floating staging that is being used to paint the sides of the ship. Whitaker Tankers had provided the paint for what will be a stunning change to the vessel’s traditional colours.
Despite this generosity, the ship needs more help, as there is still not enough money to complete the repairs. Some £10,000 of anti-fouling work remains to be done and the round trip to the nearest commercial drydock in Falmouth will cost £15,000 for fuel alone and £550 per day to berth.
The volunteers are calling upon the commercial and leisure marine sectors to help, not only in terms of donations but also volunteering time and equipment. For example, they need another skilled welder. Currently there is only one, who is charged with undertaking repairs for the entire ship.
All new volunteers will be given ‘on the job’ training, lots of tea and the satisfaction that they have helped to save a valuable piece of maritime history.
The charity has applied to the local PRISM fund for a total of £24,000 and will be making an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is also upping the fundraising efforts and is hoping to begin theatre performances on board. The vessel has also just been host to a film crew for a week.
Volunteer Graham Mackenzie said, “We still need more people to come on board so that we can be more sustainable. and we’d like the industry to get behind us more”.
To register support in any way, visit: www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk
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