Stricken Carrick thrown a lifeline
A firm involved in the multi-million pound Cutty Sark restoration project has launched an eleventh-hour bid to save the Carrick.
London-based marine engineers Beckett Rankine said they believed an affordable solution could be found to save the historic ship - if those responsible were prepared to embrace radical ideas.
Following a report in The Herald yesterday, the engineers have sought a meeting with the Scottish Maritime Museum and others involved with the ship.
Becket Rankine are partners in the structural engineering and conservation work on Cutty Sark, which suffered a serious setback when it was damaged by fire last week.
Transforming the rotting hulk of wood and iron at Irvine into a top-class tourist attraction, returning the ship to a high-profile location, possibly the River Clyde, is thought to be the key to saving the 143-year-old Carrick. Tim Beckett said: "What is needed is a cost-effective and fundable solution which will nevertheless provide sufficient wow factor to attract healthy visitor numbers to sustain the completed project. We believe there are solutions that could meet these requirements."
Potential solutions, he said, would cost far less than the £25m needed for Cutty Sark and probably less than the £10m previously stated.
Mr Beckett added: "The Carrick story is extremely depressing. The solutions that are being adopted for the Cutty Sark are not appropriate. The first thing is to agree on an idea that people will travel to see. Then there has to be a fundraising campaign.
"I would like to sit down with the people dealing with the Carrick. We don't think they have explored all the options. We think there are much cheaper options than what would have been considered. We would not have come up with these ideas had it not been for the Cutty Sark experience."
Officials at the Scottish Maritime Museum, where the Carrick lies, gave the offer a mixed welcome. They said the timescale would be tight and any programme would need to be identified, agreed and sufficient cash raised quickly.
The next meeting on the de-construction of the ship is planned for July, where options will be discussed.
Jim Tildesley, adviser to the museum on the Carrick and a former museum director, welcomed the interest and said any feasible solutions would be considered: "If there are fundable solutions to get the museum out of its problem and the vessel from the slipway, we would like to hear about it."
Museum trust chairman Sam Galbraith was less hopeful: "The museum is continuing with plans for deconstruction. If someone wants to come with large sums of money and take over responsibility we would look at that.
"This has been going on for 15 years and no-one has ever delivered a penny, and it has threatened the existence of the museum. The professional opinion we have had is deconstruction is the only option."
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Posted by: Hen Broon., Glasgow. on 11:12pm Wed 30 May 07
A disgrace. No attempt was ever made to preserve this vessel, she was dumped and allowed to rot. The negative short sighted comments above sum it all up, "deconstruction is the only option,". Did you ever try "preservation," the visible evidence over these past years would suggest not. Shame on all of you.
A disgrace. No attempt was ever made to preserve this vessel, she was dumped and allowed to rot. The negative short sighted comments above sum it all up, "deconstruction is the only option,". Did you ever try "preservation," the visible evidence over these past years would suggest not. Shame on all of you.
Posted by: Jo, Glasgow on 8:15am Thu 31 May 07
Is it me or does anyone else wonder where these millions, in estimated costs required to repair both of these vessels, come from? Both the £10m and the £25m for the Cutty Sark are massive amounts and I really don't understand the costs involved or how they can possibly be this high. I think its all a bit absurd to be honest, it would be interesting to see the costs itemised.
Is it me or does anyone else wonder where these millions, in estimated costs required to repair both of these vessels, come from? Both the £10m and the £25m for the Cutty Sark are massive amounts and I really don't understand the costs involved or how they can possibly be this high. I think its all a bit absurd to be honest, it would be interesting to see the costs itemised.
Posted by: Argentocoxus, Caledonia on 9:04am Thu 31 May 07
Jo, the cost build up is simple - the fee earner network swings into action - feasibility study, archaeological evaluation, economic impact study, conservation plan, sustainability plan. These people work on percentages of the total cost of restoration so it is in their interest to keep the total BIG.
Who benefits? Lawyers, accountants, consultants, archaeologists, bankers. The ship? Oh there's no money left for that. Where's the Heritage Lottery phone number? .......
Jo, the cost build up is simple - the fee earner network swings into action - feasibility study, archaeological evaluation, economic impact study, conservation plan, sustainability plan. These people work on percentages of the total cost of restoration so it is in their interest to keep the total BIG.
Who benefits? Lawyers, accountants, consultants, archaeologists, bankers. The ship? Oh there's no money left for that. Where's the Heritage Lottery phone number? .......
Posted by: The Captain, River Clyde on 9:56am Thu 31 May 07
[bold]Salvage! Salvage! Salvage![/bold]
Combine the Carrick with the Cutty Sark and any other craft / materials that are lying about not in use.
Make a unique craft from many put together - That would be an excellent engineering feat.
Salvage! Salvage! Salvage!
Combine the Carrick with the Cutty Sark and any other craft / materials that are lying about not in use.
Make a unique craft from many put together - That would be an excellent engineering feat.
Posted by: Jo, Glasgow on 10:31am Thu 31 May 07
Argentocoxus........
.........ahhhhhhhhhh
hh, thank you, now I understand. : )
Argentocoxus........
.........ahhhhhhhhhh
hh, thank you, now I understand. : )
Posted by: John the nomad, Beijing on 10:33am Thu 31 May 07
Throw it a line? Aye, a sinker line.
Throw it a line? Aye, a sinker line.
Posted by: David, expat NI on 10:37am Thu 31 May 07
In 1987 or 88, I was a firefighter in Glasgow and we were called to pump out water from the Carrick. It took many firefighters many man hours and a lot of physical labour to finally get most of the water out while police divers searched the hull for whatever holes the water was coming in. During the evening when the equipment which included very heavy pumps was being removed, the Carrick people came aboard in their green wellies to see the damage and the salvage work being done and to make themselves g&t's and cups of tea. I remember my sub-officer asking if there was water for the firefighters to drink and being told we could always go across the road to one of the pubs or shops and buy ourselves soft drinks there. Can you imagine that I have little sympathy with anyone wanting to restore this vessel, especially those involved with the Carrick at that time. These people got a big freebie from the fire service and the police then and I'm sure they'll be wanting a freebie now.
In 1987 or 88, I was a firefighter in Glasgow and we were called to pump out water from the Carrick. It took many firefighters many man hours and a lot of physical labour to finally get most of the water out while police divers searched the hull for whatever holes the water was coming in. During the evening when the equipment which included very heavy pumps was being removed, the Carrick people came aboard in their green wellies to see the damage and the salvage work being done and to make themselves g&t's and cups of tea. I remember my sub-officer asking if there was water for the firefighters to drink and being told we could always go across the road to one of the pubs or shops and buy ourselves soft drinks there. Can you imagine that I have little sympathy with anyone wanting to restore this vessel, especially those involved with the Carrick at that time. These people got a big freebie from the fire service and the police then and I'm sure they'll be wanting a freebie now.
Posted by: Iain Dewar, London on 4:25pm Fri 1 Jun 07
It must be hugely difficult and depressing to try to run a museum without adequate funding and respect is due to those who try. However the reported comment that "This has been going on for 15 years and no-one has ever delivered a penny" seems, if correct, to sum up the problem.
Pennies are not just delivered; they have to be sought. There has to be a viable project plan: applications then have to be made to funding sources, including (but not limited to) the Heritage Lottery Fund. The wider public usually rallies round where importance and need are demonstrated with flair. Consider the Waverley story - which also illustrates how helpful the media can be where there is an interesting/worthwhi
le story .
Now perhaps many of the right things have been happening quietly but, if so, perhaps too quietly to create a profile. Is there a conservation plan that does not involve dismantling the ship? Has there been an HLF application and a public appeal? Have discussions taken place with (for example) Glasgow City Council with a view to getting a developer to (part) fund restoration in a riverside development as planning gain in return for development permission?
If so, then one must congratulate those who have tried and sympathise with the lack of result. But if not, why not?
It must be hugely difficult and depressing to try to run a museum without adequate funding and respect is due to those who try. However the reported comment that "This has been going on for 15 years and no-one has ever delivered a penny" seems, if correct, to sum up the problem.
Pennies are not just delivered; they have to be sought. There has to be a viable project plan: applications then have to be made to funding sources, including (but not limited to) the Heritage Lottery Fund. The wider public usually rallies round where importance and need are demonstrated with flair. Consider the Waverley story - which also illustrates how helpful the media can be where there is an interesting/worthwhi
le story .
Now perhaps many of the right things have been happening quietly but, if so, perhaps too quietly to create a profile. Is there a conservation plan that does not involve dismantling the ship? Has there been an HLF application and a public appeal? Have discussions taken place with (for example) Glasgow City Council with a view to getting a developer to (part) fund restoration in a riverside development as planning gain in return for development permission?
If so, then one must congratulate those who have tried and sympathise with the lack of result. But if not, why not?
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