Background: Events in 2004

Salvage Work. The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands commissioned AWG Construction Services (Falklands) Ltd to go to carry out some major environmental improvement work around Grytviken in South Georgia. The project was carried out under a partnership arrangement with the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. AWG contracted Lyle Craigie-Halkett and a team from the Chilean Salvage company, Ultragas for the major task of refloating the three ships – Albatross, Dias and Petrel - lying in the waters by the whaling station. Residues of Furnace Fuel Oil from the shore tanks and boiler service tanks were pumped into the oil barge Brechnock, which was owned by Ultragas. Petrel was the first vessel to be refloated and have its tanks cleaned. They then refloated the Viola / Dias in January 2004 to steam clean the tanks and, once this was completed, the ship was 'berthed' on the adjacent beach. . The 'berth' was cut out by a digger and then Viola / Dias was winched into position along side the newly righted Albatross and allowed to settle on a bed of gravel where she is now safe and secure. She had remained afloat for several days and required only a minimum amount of pumping whilst the tanks were cleaned although her plating was thin - especially near the waterline.

Historical Research. Dr Robb Robinson, a maritime historian specialising in the fishing industry and Ian B. Hart, former curator of the South Georgia Whaling Museum and a Shackleton Research Fellow, have written an article about the unique history of the Viola/Dias which was published in the Mariner’s Mirror, Journal of the Society for Nautical Research. They were both concerned to ensure the long-term future of the vessel. Both publicised the vessel’s plight and Robinson appeared in the press in the spring of 2004 giving some of the history of the ship and explaining his hope that she would be preserved. A cutting was forwarded to Tony Ellerbeck, former Flight Commander of HMS Endurance and a distinguished Falklands War veteran with a keen interest in South Georgia. Tony, who was shortly to visit Port Stanley, was delighted to be able to help and whilst in the Falklands met with Government official, Gordon Liddle, and Lyle Craigie Halkett and given first-hand about the state of the ship.

The Creation of a Group. After Tony Ellerbeck returned to the United Kingdom he met with Robb Robinson in Somerset to consider the way forward. Shortly thereafter they had a further meeting in London and also presented their thoughts to the South Georgia Association AGM. It was agreed that Tony should act as co-ordinator and that interested parties should be sounded out and a meeting arranged in London in July 2004.
A wide range of parties were invited and attended the meeting held at the residence of Anthony Myers. Those attending naturally included Anthony Myers, Tony Ellerbeck, Robb Robinson, Lyle Craigie Halkett and Ian B. Hart as well as Bob Burton of the South Georgia Association, John Hammerton of AWG and Jan Blackhall of Capita. Unfortunately, due to a clerical error, Brian Hayton, Head of Cultural Services for Kingston upon Hull City Council, was missed out of the email loop and not invited.

Outcomes of the Group’s First Meeting. The meeting agreed to go forward with investigating the costs and practicalities of recovering, restoring and endowing the vessel. Three possibilities were considered. One was to carry out work on the vessel in situ in South Georgia, another was to recover it and look for a home in a maritime museum in England and the third was to recover the vessel and find a permanent place and appropriate role for it in its original home port of Kingston upon Hull. It was agreed that the third possibility would prove the most appropriate if an end use can be agreed and resourced for the vessel.

Support and Expertise. Since that meeting a number of other parties have offered to lend practical expertise and moral support and the burgeoning project has now progressed to having an outline organisation of volunteers to consider aspects such as fund raising, project management, the use of the vessel after her return and financial management. Lyle Craigie Halkett has subsequently produced a most detailed estimate of costs and options on the way forward whilst Anthony Myers has proved invaluable with his knowledge of financial affairs and is preparing the way for the project to acquire a charitable status. Several other organisations and individuals have also offered invaluable support and expertise. Most notably amongst these are Paul Escreet of Specialist Marine Services of Hull and Captain John Simpson and his employers London Offshore Consultants.

Progress over the summer and autumn. During the course of the summer, autumn and winter of 2004/5 Robb Robinson has continued to give a series of presentations on the vessel and outline our plans to various interested groups and also discussed the project on both regional TV and radio. Lyle Craigie Halkett and John Simpson have also contributed some excellent articles on the vessel to the shipping press. The project cannot really come to fruition without a clear end use for the returning vessel being determined. In August 2004 Anthony Myers and Tony Ellerbeck visited Hull to consider possible destinations/locations in the city. They were particularly taken by a site at the mouth of the River Hull where it joins the Humber close to the prestigious maritime project The Deep. At that point there is a footbridge across the Hull that goes by a redundant dry dock that could provide a non-floating home for Viola.Dias.
Further discussions have also taken place over the winter regarding logistics of bringing the vessel back to Britain. Before commissioning a feasibility study to consider its end uses, it was agreed that a survey of the vessel should be commissioned to ascertain whether the structure of the vessel is sufficiently strong to lift and carry back to Hull on a barge. A generous offer of a survey has now been made and additional finance to cover the costs of the trip and supporting equipment is currently being sought. Finance is also being sought to enable some initial cleaning and painting work to be carried out on the vessel.