StarBulletin.com

Friends of Falls of Clyde works to preserve a historic ship


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POSTED: Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Hawaii's maritime community is pulling together to ensure a historic ship will be towed to Kalaeloa by the end of the month.

“;There's a lot of kokua going on,”; said Capt. Gary “;Skip”; Naftel, vice president of external affairs of the Friends of Falls of Clyde.

The vessel is slated to be towed to a dry dock in Kalaeloa on the morning of Dec. 29, the last day of the 90-day deadline under an agreement between the Bishop Museum and the Friends of Falls of Clyde to tow the vessel from Honolulu Harbor's Pier 7. The community-based organization purchased the vessel, saving it from being scuttled in deep water.

Towing costs are estimated at $62,000. So far, the group has raised $3,200. With the IRS approval of the group's 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt status Saturday, members are optimistic that they will raise enough funds to reimburse towing costs to companies that include American Marine Corp., Marisco Ltd., Hawaiian Tug & Barge and others that offered their services.

“;The entire maritime industry is supporting the project,”; said Naftel.

A tow plan is expected to be submitted to the Coast Guard by Monday.

The original tow date was during the week of Nov. 17, but the dry dock at Kalaeloa was closed due to emergency vessel repair. If the group fails to tow the ship by Dec. 29, it will be in violation of the terms of the agreement.

The vessel was closed to the public in January 2007 due to unsafe conditions. In September the ship was sold to the Friends of Falls of Clyde after the museum said it lacked the funding to preserve and restore the ship.

Meanwhile, members are seeking a number of missing items that were removed from the ship.

“;We're trying to get back as much of the original equipment on the ship,”; said Bruce McEwan, president of the Friends of Falls of Clyde.

The missing artifacts include stained-glass panels and tools from the 1800s and portholes. Some items are believed to have been discarded or shipped elsewhere, said Naftel.

Blair Collis, the museum's senior vice president and chief operating officer, said all items they considered artifacts on the ship were accounted for and stored at the Hawaii Maritime Center at Pier 7. The museum will transport the artifacts, which include the vessel's figurehead, steering wheel and bowsprit, once the organization obtains storage space.