The Chronicle

Memories in flames as Tuxedo Royale burns

RAGING FIRE BROKE OUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND RUINED SHIP

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EXACTLY what caused the devastatin­g Tuxedo Royale floating nightclub blaze was at the centre of a major police probe today.

But as forensic officers and fire investigat­ors try to pinpoint its cause, one thing was certain – the ship which was home to a million memories and romances, is surely finished.

The Tuxedo Royale, which is docked in Teesside, caught fire at around 7pm on Wednesday, sending thick black smoke billowing across the Tees.

And these photos taken yesterday morning reveal the scale of damage to a boat once popular with Newcastle and Gateshead clubbers when it was berthed on the Gateshead quayside under the Tyne Bridge.

Cleveland Police later confirmed officers are treating the blaze as suspicious.

A spokeswoma­n for Cleveland Fire Brigade said the fire has now been extinguish­ed, however firefighte­rs remain at the scene.

She said: “There will be a multi-agency liaison taking place regarding the current ship situation and an investigat­ion into the cause of the fire.”

By about 8.50pm the blaze appeared to be largely under control but there was still smoke pouring out of the ship’s bridge area and fire crews were still fighting flames at 9.30pm.

A spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service confirmed that it had an ambulance at the scene on stand by to assist with the firefighte­rs’ efforts, but that there

were no reported casualties.

The blaze comes just months after Middlesbro­ugh Council said it would finally move the rusting boat to aid regenerati­on efforts at Middlehave­n.

But campaigner­s John Coates and Lisa Turner – who wanted to restore the vessel as a training ship – spoke of their disappoint­ment and told The Gazette they had no idea there were any discussion­s to remove it.

Speaking from the scene, John said: “It’s serious. You can see the smoke from South Bank. It could have been caused by anything – it’s been a hot day, it could have been someone, it’s not right to speculate.

“We have wanted to restore it. The problem was that it didn’t work with the council’s ski centre – there were issues. We were at a deadlock. Basically, the steel structure is all I’m interested in. It may be a bit warped but hopefully it will be OK.”

Despite rescue attempts, the former ferry – known as the TSS Dover and later renamed the Earl Siward, Sol Express and finally the Tuxedo Royale – has remained unused since it ceased operating 10 years ago.

It has been listing, rusting and empty since it was moved to the Able UK dock on the Tees in 2009.

In its heyday, thousands of people partied aboard the boat and its sister vessel, the Tuxedo Princess, when they were stationed on Tyneside.

Anyone with informatio­n should contact police on 101.

 ??  ?? Aftermath of the fire on the Tuxedo Royale, Middlehave­n, Middlesbro­ugh
Aftermath of the fire on the Tuxedo Royale, Middlehave­n, Middlesbro­ugh
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 ??  ?? ergency vices attend the e The Tuxedo Royale during its hey day on the Tyne
ergency vices attend the e The Tuxedo Royale during its hey day on the Tyne

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