Plans to scrap a South African museum ship have prompted an international rescue effort involving British maritime historians.
Heritage group National Historic Ships UK has alerted the Royal Navy to the plight of the SAS Somerset, built during World War 2 as a boom defence vessel to protect British ships in Saldanha Bay from German torpedoes.
The vessel has begun leaking oil at her permanent berth next to the Two Oceans Aquarium at Cape Town's Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, where she attracts curious onlookers.
But ministerial approval to lift her out of the water, strip out historical artefacts and sell her for scrap appear to have caught naval historians by surprise.
National Historic Ships UK director Hannah Cunliffe this week confirmed she had reported the matter to the director-general of the National Museum of the Royal Navy "to make him aware of [the ship's] plight".
She said: "I have offered to include her on our overseas watch list, which provides a mechanism for us to connect with vessels of UK significance that are now abroad.
"In terms of rarity, I am not aware of any other survivors of this type in the UK," said Cunliffe, adding that models of other ships of the class were kept at the Imperial War Museum in Britain.
Previously known as HMS Barcross, the steam-powered ship was transferred to the South African navy shortly after the war.
In 1988 it was transferred to the cultural history museum to become a museum ship, but funding and maintenance problems resulted in it being closed to the public.
Iziko Museums of SA, which absorbed the cultural history museum into a new national body with four other museums, this week confirmed it had obtained scrapping authorisation from the arts & culture minister because it could no longer afford the costly repairs and maintenance.
"She also poses an environmental risk to the sea life in the marina as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium," the museum said in a written response to Sunday Times queries.
"Over the years Iziko has approached various organisations to take over the SAS Somerset and also considered many proposals presented to Iziko. However, after assessing the state of the SAS Somerset and the cost for repair, renovations and ongoing maintenance, interested parties have all made the decision not to take over the SAS Somerset as it was not commercially viable."
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) said the ship could not be scrapped without its consent and a formal public participation process.
"Before any state department or supported body may scrap a heritage object, it must prove to Sahra that all possible alternative avenues to conserve and preserve the object have been exhausted, and that potential buyers have been sought and a lack of interest shown," Sahra said.
"As a matter of standard practice, Sahra will circulate the notice for comment and input from specialists and interested parties in the relevant field. When a potential buyer has been identified who wishes to preserve and conserve the object in question, then Sahra will make the expressed interest known to the relevant department or supported body," Sahra said, adding that a general public notice was circulated this week.
Maritime sources said the ship had been badly vandalised in recent years and had started taking on water.
Cape Town boat owner Keith Wetmore said he and a partner had abandoned a plan to buy the vessel after inspecting it.
"When we looked at the boat, with the serious intention of offering something to Iziko, it just was not possible. Every bit of copper and anything of value has been taken," he said, adding that it appeared the thieves had been living aboard.
Rear-Admiral Arne Söderlund, a former head of fleet force preparation who served aboard the Somerset, said rescuing the ship was not feasible due to the enormous cost.
"She was in great condition until the V&A 'needed' her berth and she was relegated to the backwaters and fell into disuse as she was just ignored by those who owned her. A very sad story," he said...