WAVERLEY EXCURSIONS LTD

NEWS RELEASE – 11 MARCH 2003

WAVERLEY COUNTDOWN TO “MAIDEN VOYAGE”

The “Waverley”, last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, is now well and truly afloat once again. She has been re-floated at the specialist ship-repairer George Prior Engineering at Great Yarmouth where she is undergoing the final stages of her unique £7M rebuild project.

This has only been possible with major grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund totalling over £6M and the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS). Smaller contributions have come from Glasgow District Council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, the European Regional Development Fund and local authorities.

“Waverley” has been supported by the PSPS with a vibrant membership of over 4000 for 30 years but only the excellent partnership with the HLF has provided “Waverley” with a viable long-term future.

“Waverley”, built on the River Clyde, is being restored and re-built in a style sympathetic to the 1947 era, - the year she was built - with shipyard skills of yesteryear being revived. A significant amount of the ship’s hull has been replaced & has been carried out using traditional riveting of the steel plates, instead of the modern welding process. This is a skill which has all but disappeared in UK shipbuilding but a long-disused pneumatic gun was found, a red hot fire-spitting coke brazier stove was specially constructed for the white hot rivets, and armed with suitable hand and ear protection to comply with modern Health & Safety requirements, three George Prior Engineering staff were re-trained in the old skills. The result is outstanding and will help to give “Waverley” a pleasing traditional 1940’s appearance.

“Waverley” is also benefiting from over 3 miles of new wooden decks. The timber being used is kiln-dried Nigerian iroko, shipped specially from South Africa to Felixstowe and is being laid in traditional style by specialist “caulkers”.

During the next 12 weeks, the finishing touches will be carried out to Waverley’s new crew accommodation and the new passenger lounges on both the promenade and main decks. In addition, the ship will have two new wooden masts, the paddle wheels and main engine are being refurbished and a new sewage plant will be installed.

Douglas McGowan, Project Communications Manager for Waverley Excursions and the man who “bought” the “Waverley” for the historic £1 from Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd on behalf of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 said, “This amazing project will guarantee “Waverley’s” future for the benefit and education of future generations. We are all looking forward to her grand re-entry back into service.”

“Waverley’s” jubilant ‘maiden voyage’ following her rebuild is on Saturday 14th June from Glasgow and Largs up Loch Long to Arrochar, retracing the route of her original maiden voyage in June 1947. This will be followed later that day by a celebration evening cruise from Glasgow down the river Clyde. With the re-opening of Lochranza pier on the beautiful Island of Arran, “Waverley” will be introducing a brand new cruise for 2003 on Sundays from Glasgow to the delightful island village. This cruise will also give passengers the opportunity to sample the famous whisky from the fascinating Lochranza distillery, before rejoining the steamer for the return journey.

Since 1975, “Waverley” has carried over 5 million passengers on public day excursions on the Firth of Clyde, Bristol Channel, the Solent and River Thames.

Waverley’s consort, the historic 1949 passenger ship “Balmoral”, has also benefited from an HLF grant of and is shortly to be re-engined prior to the start of the 2003 season. “Balmoral” operates around the UK coast but primarily in the Bristol Channel and River Thames.

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