BALMORAL to return to IOM this summer - volunteers needed
Plans are now well advanced for the 1949-built classic coastal excursion ship MV BALMORAL to return to the Island at the end of June and to offer a Tynwald Day Excursion to Whitehaven. Her last visit was in 2012, after which she was withdrawn from service as her then owners were unable to finance the work required to operate her in 2013 and 2014.
Thanks entirely to the efforts of volunteers, the ship has been well maintained during lay-up and a new charity has been formed which has raised over a quarter of a million pounds from voluntary contributions. Further considerable help by way of a grant from the Coastal Communities Fund will enable this historic motor vessel to sail again in June. She is scheduled to go into dry dock for final checks and preparations mid-April and make her maiden voyage from Bristol on June 19th. For further news and information www.mvbalmoral.org.uk However volunteer help is now needed on her IOM sailings.
How you can help
Bringing the ship back into service has been the result of much hard work by volunteers and to ensure that her new era of operation is commercially successful:
- Volunteer help is needed on the Island - both to publicise the ship and the sailings she will be offering - as well as help on the sailing days in Douglas, Peel, Port St Mary and Ramsey. More details of opportunities are available on http://tinyurl.com/balmoralsupport where you can also sign up to help. Alternatively please contact Dick Clague [email protected] (01624 834606).
- Please tell your friends that Balmoral will be coming back to the Island and put the dates in your diaries to come and sail on this classic ship. It is planned to be able to offer afternoon excursions from Douglas to the Calf of Man on Friday and Saturday 26th and 27th June (with a call at Port St Mary on the way back). On Sunday 28th June there will be a trip from Douglas to Peel via Calf of Man (returning via Port St Mary) and on Monday 29th June the chance to sail on Balmoral from Ramsey to Douglas - an opportunity last offered in 1999. On Tynwald Day (Monday July 6) the plan is for a full day excursion from Douglas to Whitehaven.
- Donations to restore Balmoral to service are still needed - details of how to give can be found at http://tinyurl.com/donatebalmoral or cheques may be sent to: MV Balmoral Fund Ltd, c/o 23 Adder Hill, Great Boughton, Chester, CH3 5RA
What happens next?
Balmoral will be operated by a new Bristol-based company White Funnel Ltd, which is wholly owned by the charity MV Balmoral Fund Ltd www.mvbalmoral.org.uk , but she continues to be technically managed by SeaSpan Shipping Ltd of Glasgow.
Until her new operator opens for business (staff are now being recruited) timetables cannot be finalised, prices set or tickets put on sale - but this is planned to happen in May.
We would like to hear your views. If you have any comments or further information on this story, please email the Manx Electric Railway Society at [email protected]