SS SHIELDHALL

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Latest news

Shieldhall returned to Southampton

On May 25 at 6 a.m. the "Shieldhall" arrived at berth 29 in Southampton after a 22 hour voyage returning from her scheduled dry-docking in Falmouth. The required dry-docking, which followed a fundraising drive, was needed for reissuing her passenger carrying permit. While in dry dock she had her hull painted, propellers polished but the discovery of corrosion on some aft frames means that her compliance could not be granted at this time and passenger carrying voyages have to be postponed for now, though the marine surveyor has been impressed with her overall condition, with only a very specific fix needed for clearance.

Passenger certificate refused for Shieldhall - future uncertain

The future of the "Shieldhall" lies in the balance after the vessel was refused a new passenger certificate. Next month’s programme of excursions, from her berth in the Eastern Docks, has been postponed, cutting off cash, which helps to keep the vessel afloat. A statement from the operators said the ship will not be sailing “for the foreseeable future”. A total of £80,000 was sought to fund a period of dry-docking, during which maintenance work would be undertaken to ensure the ship met the list conditions before a new passenger carrying certificate could be issued. After a round of fundraising events and donations, the charity the Solent Steam Packet Limited managed to raise the money to take the ship to Cornwall, where the work would be carried out. Once she was in the Falmouth shipyard it was discovered that even more work than was first thought needs to be carried out before a certificate is issued. Permission has now been granted for "Shieldhall" to make a scheduled departure from on May 24, 2011, and return to Southampton, where an assessment of her future will be considered.

SS SHIELDHALL 5322752

Southampton steamer SS Shieldhall sails on after appeal - One of the largest remaining steamships in the UK is to be kept seaworthy after a fundraising appeal. The Solent Steam Packet charity, running the SS Shieldhall, raised close to £80,000 in four months to pay for a dry dock inspection. Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-13344728