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After tug delivered historic clipper, plans for its return in limbo

While the "Dutch Pioneer" left Chatham again on Sep 26 after having delivered the "City of Adelaide" in the port, the plans to return the historic clipper to South Australia are now in limbo as the new Coalition government was again assessing the ship’s heritage values. The City of Adelaide Preservation Trust was promised $850,000 from the Labor government more in 2012 to cover the cost of its journey from the UK to Adelaide. But the cheque was not signed before the government went into caretaker mode ahead of the Sep 7 election and the Trust was yet to hear whether the Coalition will honour the commitment. The new Environment Minister Greg Hunt was seeking information about the project’s cost and heritage values before advising the Trust of the outcome of its funding bid. He was yet to receive a full briefing on the project. Trust director Peter Christopher said he was confident the Coalition would honour Labor’s commitment but he was unable to book the heavy-lift ship which was to carry the clipper to Adelaide until the Coalition committed. Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson urged Mr Hunt to make a speedy decision on the City of Adelaide project. It would be a major disgrace for not only Port Adelaide but for Australia if the Federal Government does not follow through with this funding commitment. The State Government had come under fire after it announced it had set aside land at Marina Adelaide, Largs North , as the ship’s permanent resting place when it arrives in the Port, rather than mooring it in the Port town centre. The "City of Adelaide" remained in Chatham Docks where she was getting prepared for a formal celebration alongside the historic clipper "Cutty Sark" on the River Thames on Oct 18. Report with photos: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/west-beaches/historic-city-of-adelaide-clipper-ship-journey-home-to-sa-in-limbo-over-heritage-assessment/story-fni9llx9-1226730337252

Oldest clipper in the world reached Chatham

The "Dutch Pioneer" towing the "City of Adelaide", the oldest surviving clipper ship in the world, to Chatham on the barge "Lastdrager 28" of the Wanderwees company, reached the port on Sep 25 where the clipper was to be fumigated at Chatham docks and to say an emotional goodbye at an event in Greenwich by the "Cutty Sark" with the Duke of Edinburgh in attendance before leaving for Australia mid-October. The "City of Adelaide" spent five decades on the Clyde and will always be remembered in Glasgow as the "Carrick", having served as an RNVR Messhouse in the city centre. Having sunk twice at her quayside moorings, she was salvaged and taken down the Firth of Clyde to Irvine in Ayrshire and dragged ashore and was in that position for 22 years. Her eventual departure from Irvine Harbour attracted thousands to witness the move. Report with photos and video: http://www.thamespics.co.uk/2013/09/city-adelaide-chatham/

City of Adelaide under tow to Chatham

The "Dutch Pioneer" on Sep 20 started the transit of the "City of Adelaide" and has an ETA at Chatham on Sep 26. A crowd of up to 1,000 people has watched the world's oldest clipper ship leave Scotland for the last time when the pontoon barge supporting the "City of Adelaide" was towed from the Scottish Maritime Museum at Irvine The pontoon supporting the Clipper was now being towed out into the Irish Sea. Over the next seven to 10 days, it will travel round the tip of Cornwall and up into the River Thames. The historic clipper will then be loaded onto a cargo ship for its final journey to Adelaide.