Bishop Museum Searches For New Benefactor For Historic Falls of Clyde
The historic Falls of Clyde, currently moored in Honolulu Harbor, will need an estimated $32 million in repair and renovation work to be restored to its former glory, according to an assessment conducted of the 130-year-old ship by a respected marine surveyor from Massachusetts. The staggering cost of restoring the vessel has Bishop Museum now searching for a new benefactor that can demonstrate the desire and the means to take on the tasks of restoring and maintaining the historic ship.
“While our first choice would be to move forward with a complete restoration of the Falls of Clyde, the reality is such that we do not have the finances or staff resources to undertake a fundraising campaign of this monumental magnitude,” said Timothy E. Johns, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bishop Museum, the not-for-profit operator of Hawai‘i Maritime Center which owns Falls of Clyde.
Bishop Museum has launched a worldwide search for a new benefactor for the Falls of Clyde through noted marine surveyor and ship consultant Joseph W. Lombardi and his company, Ocean Technical Services. Lombardi has already identified more than 500 potential candidates from his extensive network of historic ship organizations.
“We sincerely hope that a new owner can be found – someone who has the financial means to restore this remarkable ship to her original condition,” added Johns.
Lombardi conducted an historic ship assessment of the Falls of Clyde in 2007. In a 195-page report, he outlined the condition of the ship, which has suffered continued deterioration despite considerable ongoing efforts at restoration and preservation that has cost in excess of $2 million over the past 10 years. Lombardi estimated that it would cost $24 to $32 million – or possibly more – to repair the ship, which is currently moored at Pier 7 in Honolulu Harbor, adjacent to the Hawai‘i Maritime Center. The estimate does not include the cost of future maintenance, which could amount to as much $1 million per year.
A National Historic Landmark, the Falls of Clyde was last dry docked in 1981 and underwent significant restoration that enabled tours of the ship to resume and thousands of visitors to go aboard and experience it. A preservation plan was developed shortly thereafter and has served as the Museum’s guide for ongoing maintenance and repair work.
In early 2007, Hawai‘i Maritime Center made the decision to close the ship to tours for safety reasons and in order to facilitate repairs to the deteriorating tank, which frequently caused the ship to list dramatically. The decision was also made to conduct a more thorough inspection by marine experts.
“While our costly restoration efforts have greatly extended the life of the Falls of Clyde, they have not stopped the continuing deterioration and corrosion of the natural materials of which the ship is made. Most other ships of this age have long since been decommissioned and disposed of,” explained Johns. “The ship’s worsening condition requires immediate action and we therefore need to identify a new benefactor for the vessel by the middle of 2008.”
The Falls of Clyde was built in 1878 by Russell and Company in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland. The ship was launched as the first of eight iron-hulled four-masted ships built for Wright and Breakenridge’s Falls line. It was named after the Falls of Clyde, a waterfall on the River Clyde. In 1899, Capt. William Matson purchased the ship and brought it to Honolulu, where it was registered under the Hawaiian flag. From 1898 to 1907, the Falls of Clyde was used as a transpacific passenger and freight-carrying vessel. The ship was later sold and converted to a bulk tanker and then to a fuel-oil barge and floating gasoline depot before being decommissioned in 1959. The Falls of Clyde changed hands twice before it was given to the Bishop Museum in 1968, after which it was transferred to Hawai‘i Maritime Center in 1988.
“Due in large part to the vision and support of individuals such as Bob Krauss, Robert Pfeiffer, David Lyman, and many others in the maritime community we have been fortunate that entire generations have experienced this ship during its years in Hawaii, and we are hopeful that a new benefactor can preserve the ship for generations to come,” said Johns.
For more information about The Falls Of Clyde, call (808) 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.
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