The historic ferry MV Balmoral has stopped sailing because the preservation charity which owns it needs £3,000,000.
The MV Balmoral, built in 1949 and able to carry up to 800 passengers, operated on routes around England’s south coast, venturing up to Oban and the isles annually. But the MV Balmoral Fund, the charity which owns the ship, announced last week: ‘MV Balmoral remains tied up in Bristol until funds are raised to undertake major upgrade work likely to cost around £3 million – an amount well beyond the funds available to the charity.
‘The response over the next few months will determine whether it is realistic to aim for an operational future for this unique vessel, so she can once again play an active part in providing pleasure to thousands of passengers around the British coastline. If such support is not forthcoming then a decision will be needed whether she could have a future as a static, educational and heritage resource.’