Duke of Lancaster

It seems that the owners of the ex ferry and cruise ship "Duke of Lancaster" berthed at Llanerch-y-Mor, north wales have finally broken their silence.

They are working with the "Duke of Lancaster Appreciation society" to tell the story of the ship and the problems faced since the "Funship" years of the early 1980's.
I passed the ship only last sunday whilst and she really is looking forlorn.

More details at http://www.dukeoflancaster.net

regards
Ian

 

Just under a year ago, she looked like this;

 

Sad sight. She is one of a trio. In their original form they were truly 'mini liners' STEAM turbines too! Two were converted to car ferries in 1970 and lost a little of their original fittings, but the pedigree was still evident. Sailed aboard her many times.

Try this link

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/BR2_Heysham.html

 

The recent news on the intended scrapping of the 'Manxman' prompted me to see if anything had changed around the future of this other magnificent old lady. Sadly she stilll rusts in her concrete coffin . How much longer before the Duke is dismantled I wonder?

 

Fortunatley the future is looking up for the old Duke.
The owners are set to reveal some exiting new plans for the future use of the ship.
Also the story of the ship and how she came to be in her present state has now been told on the website.
There is much more information at

http://www.dukeoflancaster.net

Also there is upto date info and ongoing discussion on the "Duke of Lancaster" group page on facebook.

G M Hatter

 

I want to believe that...............I really really do. Is she still full of asbestos ?

 

Drove past her yesterday. What a sorry sight.

 

Yep ! I suspect there is an asbestos issue that may have prevented her being sold for scrap. The 'exciting news' promised by the owners earlier this year has yet to materialise?

 

The facebook site has loads of history and info, check it out at:-

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=177052179118#!/group.php?gid=177052179118&v=wall

Regarding the future of the ship , internally she is in remarkable condition, almost like a time capsule.
The owners are, I belive back in discussion with Flintshire council regading a possible reopening as a tourist attraction.

Fingers crossed eh?

 

Fingers, legs, toes and anything else I can cross!

 

In case anyone didn't spot my reference to this ship on my thread about the Meccano Magazine - here is a link to the relevent page in the Nov 1956 edition when the ship was new.

http://www.meccanoindex.co.uk/MMpage.php?MID=29075&id=1281726395

could be all sorts of interesting stuff about rail air and sea buried in the pages of these mags!!

 

Thanks for that Mike

 

Apparently, the ship will feature in an episode of 'Coast' next year. Not sure I want to see her rotting 'close up.' So many memories of her in her hey day

http://www.dukeoflancaster.net/

 

Here we are, eight months later and nothing seems to be occuring? I've posted this simply to put the topic closer up the list - but if anyone has any further news it would be nice to hear it - good or bad.

 

At least the ship is now finding some sort of use ...

BBC News - Duke of Lancaster: Street art murals on beached ship

Richard

 

BBC News seem to have a "thing" about this boat. Some more photos of "ship art" posted this morning:
BBC News - In pictures: Duke of Lancaster art project grows

Richard

 

I was looking at her through my binoculars from the Wirral side , & was wondering what the huge'blob' was on her port side.

Bob.

 

Saw it from a Holyhead - Chester train a couple of weeks ago. Makes her an even sorrier sight. She'd be better scrapped than suffer even more indignity.

 

I would suspect that this is all part of a long term plan to make her such an eyesore that the Council have to grant planning permission for something, probably contrary to policy.

However I actually sought out the topic to post this link http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ndoned-ship-welsh-11403118#ICID=FB-Wales-main