The ship is about to be scrapped.

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The ss SHIELDHALL was built on the Clyde in 1955, and survives as an example of the classic riveted-construction steam ship. She is now maintained at Southampton and operated by volunteers of the The Solent Steam Packet Limited - a registered charity.

She will shortly have to be dry-docked and needs to raise £80,000 to pay for the costs. See:

http://www.ss-shieldhall.co.uk/Shieldhall/Appeal.html

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SS Shieldhall Could Be Scrapped

Daily Echo

Sunday 2nd January 2011

TIME is running out in the campaign to save a historic steamship, writes Emma Streatfield.

It is feared that Hampshire-based SS Shieldhall – described as an
important part of Britain's maritime heritage – could be scrapped if
vital funds cannot be found.

As reported by the Daily Echo in November, an emergency appeal has been launched to save the vessel.

The largest remaining sea-going steamship, based at the Port of
Southampton, needs its MoT next spring at a cost of £80,000, without
which it will be refused a licence to sail and will be broken up.

The deadline inspection date is May.

Built in 1955, SS Shieldhall gives cruises in the Solent and along the
south coast of England and is operated by a fully qualified crew
together with a shore-based support staff, all of whom are unpaid
volunteers.

It is a working example of ship machinery above and below deck that is
representative of cargo and passenger ships at sea from the 1870s until the 1960s.

Since 2009, it has been the flagship of the National Historic Ships, a
collection of vessels which also includes HMS Victory, Cutty Sark, the
former Royal Yacht Britannia, and the paddle steamer Waverley.

The repairs include fuel to take the vessel to a Falmouth shipyard, the docking itself and the maintenance work.

Despite applying for more than 30 grants, so far this has proved
unsuccessful.

The charity which runs the ship, The Solent Steam Packet Ltd, is behind the on-going appeal.

Managing director Graham Mackenzie said it relied solely on revenue from fares and donations to survive.

He said: "Without emergency funding, the historic SS Shieldhall will
lose her passenger certificate and therefore her main source of income.

"There may be little choice but to send her to the breaker's yard.

"This is devastating news for a sea-faring nation and a tragic legacy to leave our children."

• For more information visit ss-shieldhall.co.uk.

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