Despite attempts to turn HMS Illustrious into
a floating museum or attraction, the Ministry of Defence has now confirmed the
warship will be sold "for recycling".
13 May
HMS Illustrious, which served in the
Falklands War, Bosnia and the Gulf, has been put up for sale for scrap by the
Ministry of Defence.
The Disposal Services Authority (DSA) is
inviting expressions of interest for the sale of the warship “for recycling”.
The vessel is currently moored in Portsmouth Harbour after 32 years of active
service.
The announcement comes following several
attempts to preserve the 22,000-tonne HMS Illustrious, which is affectionately
known as ‘Lusty’.
The last – selling the warship to Gibraltar
as a maritime attraction – fell through last month because of the “prohibitive”
maintenance cost of the aircraft carrier.
The DSA said the sale could be discontinued
should “a heritage option” become open.
Bids for the warship must be in by 23 May
with viewings in June.
HMS Illustrious was decommissioned in August
2014 at a service at Portsmouth Naval Base. At the time, the ship was the last
Invincible-class carrier left – both her sister ships, HMS Invincible and HMS
Ark Royal had already been scrapped.
12 April
The HMS Illustrious Association is warning
that the warship is at risk of becoming a ‘national embarrassment’ if action
isn’t taken to secure the vessel’s future.
This comes as the Portsmouth News reveals
that a deal to sell the 22,000 tonne vessel to the government of Gibraltar has
fallen through.
The newspaper quotes a spokesman from the
government, stating that it was giving “serious consideration” to plans to make
the ship a maritime attraction in the British territory. However, the idea has
been shelved because of the “prohibitive” maintenance cost of the aircraft
carrier.
The President of the HMS Illustrious
Association, Vice Admiral Bob Cooling told the newspaper that he would now
rather see the ship scrapped if the Falklands warship could not be adequately
preserved.
“Unless Lusty’s future is adequately funded
to preserve her appearance and dignity as the UK’s longest-ever serving
aircraft carrier then it would be better that she is scrapped rather than risk
her becoming a national embarrassment,” he said.
The Vice Admiral believes ticket sales could
have paid for the ship’s upkeep in Gibraltar.
“What better than such an iconic example of
British naval heritage showcased in a vital overseas territory which itself
reflects over 300 years of British maritime history?” stated Vice Admiral
Cooling.
Responding to the concerns, an MOD
spokesperson told YBW: “No decisions have yet been made on the future of the
former HMS Illustrious and options for her sale are still under consideration
by the Disposal Services Authority.”
HMS Illustrious was decommissioned in August
2014 at a service at Portsmouth Naval Base. At the time, the ship was the last
Invincible-class carrier left – both her sister ships, HMS Invincible and HMS
Ark Royal had already been scrapped.
‘Lusty’, as she is affectionately known, had
been in active service for 32 years, including deployment in the Falklands War.
The ship was replaced as the nation’s helicopter carrier by HMS Ocean.
Source: yachting
and boating world. 13 May 2016
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