BALMORAL
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Balmoral will not sail in 2018 due to need of major repairs
The "Balmoral" will not sail in 2018 because of major repairs needed to its hull. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency refused to issue the ship's owners, the MV Balmoral Fund, with a licence to carry passengers until the work to the hull is carried out. Up until recently repairs had been made to the hull using what are known as doubled plates. However this has now been deemed unacceptable for anything other than emergency repairs. The news comes at the same time as the MCA has told fund trustees 'substantial' repairs need to be made to the crew accommodation before the 2019 season. Currently there are no funds to carry out the work, and without the hull repairs the ship will not sail in 2018. Trustees have now submitted a bid of £3.75million to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the repairs and to secure the ship's long-term future. The news comes just weeks after the trustees announced the future of the ship was under threat due to a poor summer season. Poor weather, mechanical problems and cancelled visits meant the ship only completed 55 of its 116 sailings during this year's season. A weeping rivet meant the ship had to go back into dry dock for repairs and the collapse of the Gravesend landing pontoon scuppered a planned visit along the Thames. Summer storms also cancelled trips and the failure of both engine and gearbox couplings added to the issues. The ship's operators White Funnel Ltd were then - at the last minute - refused permission to carry passengers to the Isle of Man, with refunds having to be issued. An incident where a rope became entangled in a propeller, damaging a shaft seal, meant another trip to dry dock and a further two weeks out of service for the ship.
Eight weeks to save Balmoral
A £450,000 appeal has been launched to save the "Balmoral after a string of bad luck saw more than half its scheduled sailings cancelled in 2017. Supporters of the ship, which makes regular trips to Lydney and is the last seagoing passsenger vessel of her type, have just eight weeks to raise the cash for vital repairs if she is to sail in 2018. Despite securing a rise in bookings of nearly two-fifths on 2016, a combination of the bad weather, breakdowns, administrative blows and accidents saw just 55 of 116 sailings completed. In 2017 Balmoral managed only 55 of her 116 scheduled sailings, fractionally under half. There was a very large deficit and serious doubts about continuing coastal excursions without financial support. The trustees need to raise £450,000 and have no more than eight weeks in which to secure "Balmoral"’s future for a further season. After that time it could be impossible to book harbours, connections and her annual survey. To find out how to donate, go to the website at www.heritagesteamers.co.uk/balmoral
Allision caused slight damage
The "Balmoral" slammed into pier during rough seas in Ilfracombe, Devon on July 26, 2017, around 7 p.m. The ship impacted the fender. Fortunately it only caused cosmetic damage. Report with photo and video: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/bristol-ferry-mv-balmoral-ploughs-254550
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