WAVERLEY REBUILD NEWS 3
Progress has been slower than had
been hoped for, due mainly to protracted discussions with the
Marine Safety and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Although
much of the design work has been completed, the final
specification could not be embarked upon until MCA approval was
forthcoming. Fire regulations were providing cause for concern in
two areas. These related to the retention of an open engine-room
and the treatment of escapes from the Lower Deck. I am pleased to
say that these matters have now been agreed in principle. The
open engine-room will be retained provided a sprinkler system is
fitted and the question of escapes has also been resolved
satisfactorily. All resources are now being targeted to achieve
progress with finalisation of the specification
In the meantime, a first payment
of just over £55,000 has been received from the Heritage Lottery
Fund in respect of design work already completed and the new
boilers have been ordered. A down payment of £66,000 has been
made for the boilers, which is shortly to be reimbursed by the
Lottery. The ship will have two Cochrane Thermax single furnace
wetback boilers, to be constructed at the company's Annan works
in Dumfriesshire.
The full internal design and
specification should be completed by the end of September. It
will be possible to recreate many details of the original ship's
outfit, as an example of which we now have firm quotations for
copies to be made of the original dining saloon and bar chairs.
It will be obvious that serious
delay to the project has now taken place, and it is unlikely that
work on the ship herself will start until the New Year. At best
the specification will be finished in mid-October with the
contract being awarded the following month. Progress achieved
over the coming few weeks will determine exactly what course the
1999 operation will take, but there is every intention that
Waverley will run for the summer season, whether this is before
or after completion of the Rebuild. It is also essential that
work is not rushed nor quality compromised. The next few months
will undoubtedly be difficult ones. But the goal of rebuilding
Waverley will be achieved and to a quality which we are
determined will be second to none.
Nick James
Chairman, Paddle Steamer Prservation Society,
12 September 1998,