Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Full Scale Ships => Topic started by: DavieTait on February 08, 2011, 07:58:55 pm
-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12396523
HMS Invincible sold to Turkish ship recyclers
The aircraft carrier HMS Invincible has been sold to a Turkish scrapyard which specialises in recycling ships.
The carrier, which saw action in the Falklands war, was sold through an internet site.
Leyal Ship Recycling, which is based near Izmir, was chosen ahead of a bid by a UK-based Chinese businessman.
Lam Kin-bong - who owns restaurants in the West Midlands - had offered £5m and wanted to turn the former warship into an international school in China.
But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "After 25 years of service HMS Invincible was decommissioned nearly six years ago and having reached the end of her distinguished career, it is right that we secure a good financial return for the taxpayer.
"The bid from Leyal Ship Recycling does this and also ensures she is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way."
Leyal has been involved in the scrapping of several Royal Navy ships - the destroyers Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow and auxiliary ship RFA Oakleaf.
HMS Invincible is expected to be towed from Portsmouth by the end of March and is expected to arrive in Turkey four weeks later.
It will take eight months to dismantle.
-
What we it be recycled into? Bean cans? Coke cans?
-
Pretty much anything that can be made from steel John , could be driving a car made from her steel by this time next year !!
-
Yep you could be right. Probably metal will end up in China. John.
-
its the chinesse that buy most of our scrap steel , prices are very good at the moment ! just a pity that she couldnt be dismantled at home , as it would give hundreds of british people jobs , and a boost in our econamy too .
-
I really find myself hoping that none of you were posting against the S.Hartlepool yard that is breaking up some USN ships (and RN/RFA ones). BY.
-
In my case would prefer it if it has to be broken for the work to be done in the Uk. I sadly assume that the ship had to be put out
to tender and under Eu laws bidding had to be open to anyone. John.
-
if the chineese wish to pay us the most to buy our scrap metal ive no problem with that , it would have been good if at least the british workforce could have dismantled the vessel . nobody has mentioned who will be paying to tow the vessel out to turkey for scrapping !
-
You can be sure it it will not be the MoD.
-
Not sure .... :embarrassed: ..but she may end up as a pile of cut plates however each plate certified to Lloyds 100A1 .....these are 100 x fold in value than scrap steel O0 O0 ...Derek
-
[But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "After 25 years of service HMS Invincible was decommissioned nearly six years ago and having reached the end of her distinguished career, it is right that we secure a good financial return for the taxpayer]
Yeah right! so why not do it here and also provide jobs in the U.K , more like we have shares in this company and like to see our profits grow, sumbags
-
Hello
French aircraft carrier was broken in UK ... Strange that RN aircraft carrier have to go to turkish breaker :o
A+ Xtian
-
The Turks must have paid the most, probaly was what it was worth a Turkish Delight!
-
The scheduled date for Invincible's departure is 24th March but that will depend upon weather conditions.
Colin
-
she is listed to sail at 0800 hrs thursday !
-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-12845457
Former HMS Invincible leaves Portsmouth
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51814000/jpg/_51814683_jex_997293_de54-1.jpg)
Invincible being towed out of Portsmouth Invincible was the sixth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name
The aircraft carrier Invincible has left Portsmouth for the last time before it is broken up at a Turkish scrapyard.
The carrier, which saw action in the Falklands War, was sold through an internet site.
Wellwishers gathered at the quayside to say farewell to the ship, which was decommissioned six years ago.
It is being taken to Leyal Ship Recycling, based near Izmir, and will take eight months to dismantle.
Leyal has been involved in the scrapping of several Royal Navy ships - the destroyers Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow and auxiliary ship RFA Oakleaf.
The former HMS Invincible set off, towed by tugs, shortly after 0800 GMT and is expected to arrive in Turkey in about four weeks.
Sir Jeremy Black, who captained the ship during the Falklands conflict, said he felt "very sad indeed" to see the ship leave.
He said his most enduring memory of his time aboard was being "scared rigid" when a torpedo was fired at the ship.
"They fired it incorrectly and it wouldn't have hit us, thank God, because that would have spoilt my day," he said.
"In fact, it would have ruined the campaign."
-
A great ship passes. Taken by my daughter this morning.
Colin
-
Does this country actually have any steel re-cycling plants left? It can't be just because someone bid a few £ more than others surely. Up here on the Tyne there's a remarkable cycle going on. We import coal (!) from Australia, after discharging the coal the ships load "scrap" metal and heave it over to China. Then the ship toddles back to Aussie for more coal. Ad-infinitum. All seems a bit daft to me. BY.
-
A sad set of pictures to be sure. Thanks for posting them. The China connection is even weirder than you might think, it seems that prawns caught in UK waters are sent to the far east to be shelled and then sent back to the UK for sale in supermarkets.... get some unemployed UK citizens(?) to do it for goodness sake !!!! Or is this another myth to be debunked by Snopes?. {:-{
-
knowing the current prices for scrap in this country its a wonder why she couldnt have been broken in this country before the metals are sorted and sold to china . we have the technology to build yet not to dismantle ? as has been stated we have thousands of bristish workers who would like to work , if only our jobs werent being taken by migrant workers for less than the minimum wage !
-
Prawns from a factory in Ayrshire are frozen , sent by ship to Thailand , defrosted , shelled , refrozen then shipped all the way back..... sad to say but that is true
-
It may be my sentimental nature but looking at those photos I don't see a potential supply of razor blades. I remember sitting at home watching TV in 1982 and willing the Task Force to succeed. Invincible and Hermes were a big part of that and whilst Invincible may now be just a hulk, to me she embodies the traditions of the RN and has served her country well so all honour to her.
Colin
-
Well put Colin. Totally agree. John.
-
Duncan
Youngs send their Scampi and Prawns to Thailand for processing, that is why I have stopped buying their products.
Brian
-
Youngs send their Scampi and Prawns to Thailand for processing, that is why I have stopped buying their products.
If this isn't hijacking a topic I don't know what is... Not impressed! :((
If people just see these photos in terms of scrap metal and Chinese takeaways it seems there is little hope for us.... Explains a lot I suppose.
Invincible's Captain at the Falkllands was there to mark the occasion and was interviewed on the BBC. At least some people retain a sense of proportion and history.
Prawns!!!!!!!!!!!!! <*<
Colin
-
Fair well Invincible! Rest In Pieces.
-
I`m sorry Colin ,mia culpa. It was I who brought the prawn into the conversation. it seemed relevant at the time, labour going abroad etc. I will however try to keep HMS Invincible`s memory alive as long as I can.
-
If this isn't hijacking a topic I don't know what is... Not impressed! :((
If people just see these photos in terms of scrap metal and Chinese takeaways it seems there is little hope for us.... Explains a lot I suppose.
Invincible's Captain at the Falkllands was there to mark the occasion and was interviewed on the BBC. At least some people retain a sense of proportion and history.
Prawns!!!!!!!!!!!!! <*<
Colin
errmmmm...actually it is just scrap steel.....
what makes a ship is the people who sail her, and for the RN I guess, also what the name means for its history.
-
Not an aircraft carrier - A through deck cruiser
Labour would not build carriers
Ark and Eagle were the last of the carriers (and Hermes)
No sackcloth and ashes when these grand old ships met their fate
I spent part of my career in the FAA and served on Victorious,Centaur and Eagle
They were Carriers
Ned
-
Not an aircraft carrier - A through deck cruiser
Labour would not build carriers
Ark and Eagle were the last of the carriers (and Hermes)
No sackcloth and ashes when these grand old ships met their fate
I spent part of my career in the FAA and served on Victorious,Centaur and Eagle
They were Carriers
Ned
Bull plop! The Harrier was an outstanding piece of technology and proved to be an outstanding aircraft in the Falklands, Bosnia, Afganistan etc. Through deck Cruisers dont exist, never did exist, it was just a term to confuse our fairly stupid masters in government. Invincible carried these aircraft, therefore she was and is an Aircraft Carrier.
Long may she be remembered.
Dont forget Hermes is still soldiering on in the Indian Navy, I would assume she is probably filled with expanding foam and quick drying cement though %% %%
-
Sorry I've got to agree with Ned. Eagle, Vic, Ark and the rest were proper carriers with reasonably large airwings.
We got a 2nd rate product with the so called "through deck cruisers, fortunately we had a first rate aircraft in the
Sea Harrier otherwise the ships would not have been worth the steel from which they were built
I would never deny that the combination of the thru decks and harriers did a most excellent job
but they should not be confused with the real thing which would have given us far better protection
in the Falklands
Never served on Carriers but spend weeks and weeks plane guard for the Ark and to see her air group of about 45 planes
on circuits and bumps you realised what a useful asset she was.
Geoff
-
True, if the old Ark was still in service late 1981, I doubt our friends in the South Atlantic would have considered causing 'a bit of a fuss'. However, we have a long tradition of doing the best with the second rate rubbish we are provided with. The ships are only a means to an end, what you do with your assets is what counts.
-
And hasn't that always been the same with the Armed Forces of this country.
Underfunded and undervalued _ until......
Geoff
-
And hasn't that always been the same with the Armed Forces of this country.
Underfunded and undervalued _ until......
Geoff
The proverbial hits the fan.
My late father (ex REME) used to say If politicians or their children had to be the first into battle,
we would never go to war.
Regards
Richard
-
Through Deck Cruiser was what the admiralty described these ships so that the money men wouldn't say no to building project.
-
I was rather hoping this topic wouldn't turn into a rant but oh well.... :((
A large number of people gathered together yesterday to watch Invincible's departure, many of them had served aboard her including her captain at the Falklands. I don't think they felt they were looking at a few thousand tons of inert steel but rather something which acted as a focus for their shared memories and experiences as members of her ship's company over the years. By the same token you might as well describe HMS Victory as a pile of rotting lumber but a majority of people might think otherwise.
I remember being on the beach on the Isle of Wight in 1960 when HMS Vanguard was towed away for breaking up and my Dad said to me, 'there goes the very last British Battleship'; perhaps not quite true as Warrior has come back since then, if only as a tourist attraction, but I have never forgotten the sight of her passing out of view around the headland.
History is important - it defines who we are. Too many people are ignorant of it these days unfortunately.
Colin
-
I spent some time in the Royal Navy and a current work mate lost friends when HMS Coventry was hit so I have nothing but respect the guys and girls who serve our country. Yes a ship is just a ship but its what it symbolises that's important.
-
Sad to see the old girl go.
I joined Invincible when she first arrived in Portsmouth,and went through all the sea trials to be accepted into the RN.
Served on her for 3 yrs including the south atlantic.
But a ship only has so much sea life.
Mark
-
But a ship only has so much sea life.
I think that's a given, I wasn't suggesting she be put back into service, just that her breaking up does have some historical significance.
Colin
-
She should have been put into Portsmouth as a museum ship Colin. A memorial to the fleet that retook the Falklands. The RN could have still used her instead of using the old destroyer Bristol.
-
Davie, yes that sounds like a good idea, a lot more accommodation which would have offered more flexible options plus the potential for adding to tourist attractions of the historic ships in the Dockyard. The big flight deck would have been good for staging various events too. Just a bit of imagination and a sound business plan needed really.
However, the Historic Dockyard has to work very hard to pay its way which it does by staging various events throughout the year. Just relying on the historic ships is not enough as once people have made a visit it takes a lot to bring them back again in the short term. Chatham has similar issues. I always take every opportunity to plug both in Model Boats as the people running these places are essentially preserving our naval heritage in the face of indifference by Government and Big Business.
We in Britain have never been very good at preserving our historic ships, the USA and other countries have much better records.
Colin
-
Wonder if they used the Ark Royal for my suggestion if the name alone wouldn't draw in bigger crowds. I know she never went to the Falklands ( still being built ) but with her name surely she could be used like that.
Corporate days , a conference centre ( hell she's got a big enough hanger for 3 or 4 big rooms ) , concerts , hell it wouldn't take too much to make a go of it surely.
You make a good point about the USA preserving their historic ships Colin , I don't know if a single Battleship was scrapped after WW2 I think all of them apart from the New Jersey ( she's still in the mothball fleet at the insistence of the Marine Corps I think ) are museum ships but I think quite a lot of them are in fairly poor condition , guess funding is as big a problem over there as here at times.
-
The last I heard, the suggestion for Ark Royal was that she should be used as a heliport on the Thames. Landing space for commercial choppers is apparently at a premium and the single engine ones have to fly up and down the river for safety reasons. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.
I think you are right about the US preserved ships having financial difficulties, there has been talk of scrapping the USS Maine recently. But maintaining something the size of a WW2 battleship is obviously a huge endeavour helped only by the fact that they were previously very solidly built. Where the US differs from the UK is that I sense there is much more local civic pride in the States in preserving these vessels. Over here there is almost total disinterest except for small bands of enthusiasts, a situation which perhaps reflects the relative importance given to history in our respective education systems.
Colin
-
I'm not usually a fan of the Daily Mail but I think that in this instance they are right on the button: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369599/HMS-Invincible-aircraft-carrier-leaves-Portsmouth-Turkish-scrapyard.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Colin
-
Hello
A picture of the ex-Invincible seen on this week Tug Towing and Offshore Newsletter (nb 14 2011)
http://www.towingline.com/all-tugs-towing-offshore-newsletters/volume-twelfth-2011
(http://nsa26.casimages.com/img/2011/04/10/110410014759166831.jpg) (http://www.casimages.com)
Xtian
-
I have no wish or desire to be controversial here, but we're going over old ground. Colin (and others) do raise some interesting points. But firstly may I just gently point out that "nostalgia" isn't confined to warships. Everybody and his dog wanted to "keep" the old QE2 "somewhere". But where? And who would pay for it? A load of nonsense really.
Then of course we have the fact that all the "Historic" Dockyards are on or near the South Coast. Miles and miles away from where most of the rest of the UK population live. Even if you live next door to one of these places, how often would you visit? We, up here, have the splendid Beamish Museum...but I would guess that the "locals" only visit once every 5 years or so....if that, unless they're escorting relatives from furrin parts such as Leistershire or somewhere.
As a final aside. did you know that there was once a grotty little RFA with the name "Ark Royal"? Who mourned her passing I wonder. Cheers. BY.
-
And whats wrong with Leicestershire - Gods little acre - you just get some strange folk from there.
Not me ofcourse.
Geoff