Wirral businessman’s big to save the Royal Iris

Feb 24 2010 by Liam Murphy, Birkenhead News

A BUSINESSMAN has revealed he is in negotiations with the owner of the Royal Iris to buy the much-loved historic former ferry.

Built for Wallasey Ferries in 1950, the Royal Iris has lain derelict on the Thames for the last eight years.

Two weeks ago she became flooded on high tides and began to sink.

But the Wirral businessman – who wishes to remain anonymous while negotiations continue – said he hoped to bring the boat back to the Mersey.

He said: “It is not a selfish thing and if others want to become involved they are welcome – but I have spent several years trying to convince the owner of the Royal Iris to sell her to me.

“I visited her again last week and some people had actually repaired the hull so she does not take on water during the high tides.

“As far as I know, they have not been paid for the work, but just did it because they had heard about the state of the vessel.

“Structurally, internally, she is relatively sound, but externally the years have taken their toll.

“I have had quotes for repairing her and towing her to the Mersey, and there are others who would help in this.”

He said if the Royal Iris can be brought back, he hopes to set up a not-for-profit organisation to oversee repairing the boat and allowing her to cruise the Mersey again.

Leaders at the Merseyside Maritime Museum have suggested they could step in to rescue artefacts and preserve her memory.

Iris last crossed the Mersey in 1991, but her plight – and fears that a piece of Wirral maritime heritage could be squandered – have sparked outrage.

The Port of London Authority’s spokesman Martin Garside said there had not been “any significant change to the status of the vessel”, but in the long term it would be “lovely to see it resolved”.