An historic ship dry-docked in Liverpool is facing an uncertain future under plans now being considered.
De Wadden, a three-masted Dutch coastal cargo vessel, is a survivor from World War I and has appeared in a number of films, as well as The Onedin Line for the BBC. The boat was bought by the Merseyside Maritime Museum in 1984, and since 1987 has been dry-docked for conservation and restoration work to be carried out.
Now National Museums Liverpool (NML) has launched a feasibility study on what to do with the 1917-built schooner in Canning Dock. De Wadden is one of only three surviving Irish Sea schooners and the last trading sailing ship to use the port of Liverpool.
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The options are: to dispose of the ship, either by inviting other museums to re-home it, or - if no offers are forthcoming - to break it up; or moving the ship to another location and in the longer term allowing public access after major investment.
As a publicly-funded organisation, the significant financial cost and staff resources involved to commit to De Wadden's long-term maintenance and care is an important factor in the discussions around the vessel's future
The focus on De Wadden is part of the wider £20m Waterfront Transformation project, which will create new public spaces around Canning Dock aimed at revitalising the waterfront and give people fresh understanding of Liverpool's maritime history. NML is consulting with a wide variety of groups on what to do next.
Director of National Museums Liverpool Laura Pye said: "Conversations like this are never easy. People respond to our objects, no matter how big or small, in personal and emotional ways. As custodians of these objects and their stories, it is our responsibility to be transparent about the way we care for them and the decisions we have to consider as part of healthy collection management.
"Liverpool's rich maritime history is not only of local or national significance, but it belongs to a global story of movement, trade and maritime culture, and we are proud to have an important role in sharing that.
"As we consider the future of De Wadden we are also thinking about the best way to engage in these stories and connect Liverpool's maritime history to our audience in meaningful and accessible ways. As we move through this process, hearing the views of not only stakeholders, experts and partners, but our visitors too is crucial in helping us move forward."
Director of National Historic Ships UK Hannah Cunliffe said: "We are pleased that National Museums Liverpool is following the principles set down in our guidance publications as it considers options for the future of registered historic vessel
"With her Dutch provencance we hope that a solution can be found which will keep alive the international shipping stories she represents so well. We will be glad to offer advice to any individuals or organisations interested in re-homing De Wadden and will continue to provide support to National Museums Liverpool on whatever outcome is reached following this process."
History of De Wadden
De Wadden is a three-masted auxiliary schooner built in 1917 by Gebr Van Diepen of Waterhuizen, Netherlands, for the Nederlandsche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (Netherlands Steamship Company).
Following the end of the World War I, De Wadden was sold to Richard Hall of Arklow in the Republic of Ireland.
From 1922 to 1961, De Wadden carried mainly coal as well as other bulk cargoes such as grain, pit-props, china clay and mineral ores from the River Mersey to various Irish ports. The vessel was retired from commercial use in the 1960s.
De Wadden was purchased by the Merseyside Maritime Museum in 1984 and by 1987 was drydocked to allow for a programme of conservation and restoration. In the early 1990s, the museum briefly ran some tours of the deck and education sessions, before this was withdrawn to allow further necessary conservation work to take place.
Since then, conservation has been ongoing to stabilise the vessel which has remained drydocked in Canning Graving Docks.
NML wants to hear from anyone with their own memories of De Wadden to share them by contacting maritime@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
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