The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee firm’s Lomond paddle steamer contract
Tourism: Maid of Loch project is ‘exciting and challenging’
The first contract in the £5.5 million project to rebuild Loch Lomond’s paddle steamer has been awarded to a Dundee company.
Marine consultancy firm OSD-IMT Ltd will provide naval architecture, engineering, structure and outfitting services for the rebuilding of the Maid of the Loch.
OSD-IMT has expertise in the line of work necessary for the paddle steamer to meet regulatory requirements.
John Beveridge, founder of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, said: “This is a landmark event for us.
“It is almost 20 years since the charity took ownership of the Maid, and we are now able to start work on returning this unique ship back into steam operating condition.
“It is hugely exciting for everyone, and our thanks to all the wonderful support we have had. This is a major investment for Loch Lomond.”
Neil Patterson, managing director of OSD-IMT Ltd, said it was an “exciting and challenging project”, and looked forward to assisting the charity in returning Maid of the Loch to operation.
The last paddle steamer to have been built in Britain when completed in 1953, she sailed on the loch until 1981, carrying such dignitaries as the Queen, and Queen Salote of Tonga.
The paddle steamer lay neglected at Balloch until rescued by the charity in 1996.
Since 2001 the Maid has been a twostar visitor attraction in VisitScotland’s quality assurance scheme, and open to the public throughout summer, drawing around 15,000 visitor each year.
Dr Mike Cantlay, the chairman of VisitScotland, said the Maid rebuilding project was “fantastic news for tourism in the region”.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £230,400 for the OSD-IMT work to be carried out, and has promised a further £3.8m if the charity can raise the balance of £1.7m.