Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
That sinking feeling
Owner tells of his despair after new hotel boat goes under
THE owner of a paddle steamer which sank on its way to Northern Ireland spoke yesterday of his devastation at the loss.
The MV Oliver Cromwell, which had been moored in Gloucester Docks for the past 25 years, had been bought by the Crannagh Complex near Coleraine.
It was due to transformed into a floating hotel but while being towed over on Friday, the Mississippi-style riverboat sank 12 miles off the Welsh coast near Holyhead.
The RNLI attended but footage shows the boat sinking in three hours.
No one was injured and there was no pollution as the boat had no fuel.
Seamus Carey, owner of the Crannagh Complex, said: “We were really looking forward to conducting a refurbishment of the vessel and transforming it into a luxurious 15-bedroom static hotel and restaurant on the picturesque River Bann.
“It was to be Ireland’s first ever floating hotel and a great addition to the North Coast’s tourism offering.
“We commissioned two marine surveyors, Sharpness Shipyard and Griffin Towage, and worked closely with the Marine and Coastguard Agency, to ensure all of the necessary approvals, permissions and insurances were in place to relocate the vessel to Northern Ireland.
“Surveys of the tug and the ship were completed and the MCA granted the necessary paperwork to permit the vessel to be towed 470 miles.
“We anticipated he journey would take three days and the vessel was scheduled to arrive in the Crannagh Marina Complex on Saturday.
“With prevailing fair-weather conditions, the tow started on Wednesday from Sharpness and proceeded for 200 nautical miles before running into difficulties and ultimately sinking.
“Fortunately, there was no one on board and no one was injured. In line with procedure, an investigation has been initiated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to establish the circumstances and likely causes. “We are extremely disappointed and believe this is a major blow for the tourism on the North Coast. The Crannagh Marina Complex has invested significant time and resources into this exciting new venture, which would have created 20 full-time and 15 part-time jobs.
“However, despite this unfortunate setback, we are more determined than ever and are already in the process of reviewing alternative options for a replacement boat.
“We hope to have this secured by the
BOAT OWNER YESTERDAY
end of the summer and in operation before 2019.”
The Crannagh Complex purchased the vessel from English Holiday Cruises Ltd in January for £245,000 and had planned on renaming it and undertaking a £100,000 internal refit. This was part of a £500,000 project for the marina.
Local SDLP MLA John Dallat said: “I am extremely disappointed. “This investment would have helped open up the whole of the North West and helped to increase cruising trade.”
The Coastguard said it responded to reports the 36-metre vessel – built as a Dutch barge in 1922 and then converted to a hotel in 1993 – was taking on water at around 2.20pm.
An RNLI spokesman said: “The call from UK Coastguard cited a paddle steamer on tow taking on water 10 miles west of South Stack.
“Holyhead’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat Christopher Pearce launched immediately and headed to the scene, arriving there within 40 minutes.
“On arriving, it was evident the 36 metre-vessel was in trouble and beginning to sink from the bow.”
It is understood the person who built the MV Oliver Cromwell wanted to call her the Duke of Gloucester but that the Royal family objected. So in retaliation they called her Oliver Cromwell.