Deconstruction Chronicles: Week 1

- February 26th marked the start of the scrapping/deconstruction process. At the time of writing this section, it is February 29th and I have yet to be able to make a visit to the site myself but am planning to do so as soon as possible. Fortunately, in both a Facebook post and an article written for the Liverpool Echo, information and photographs of the initial work are already available.

The Facebook post simultaneously confirmed what company would be performing the work, and that 26th was indeed the final date has since been deleted for unknown reasons but was luckily covered by the Liverpool Echo who have been able to preserve the contents of the post. The main organisation which is going to be involved in the process is known as Hightech Industrial Access[1], which according to their website 'offers an array of industrial services including rope access training and industrial plant hire in Darlington, County Durham.'[2] Hightech Industrial Access stated in their post that 'One of our teams have arrived on site to begin decommissioning the De Wadden Schooner, sadly the old girl has reached the end of her life and Hightech Industrial Access are now here to help her on her way.' [Seen below in a screenshot of the post before it was deleted].

I have been able to speak with both Hightech Industrial Access and Michelle Walsh, the Curator of Maritime History and Technology. Hightech Industrial Access stated that the work would span 3-4 weeks, with most of the 'big lifts' (meaning the large pieces of the ship being lifted out) happening the week beginning 4th March.[3] Additionally, Michelle has confirmed that the first week of the process mainly involves preparing the site and ensuring everything is safe.[4]

References

1. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/sadly-old-girl-reached-end-28710852 - Retrieved 2024-02-29.

2. https://hightech-access.co.uk/ - Retrieved 2024-02-29.

3. Fourth photo in the slide below.

4. Fifth photo in the slide below.

Week 1 -  29/02/2024

- Despite the scope of work to be taken place during week one being quite minimal and mostly preparatory, a lot has already happened. I made my first visit to the site on February 29th, 2024, and have gathered a list of everything I have noted so far. Please note that I can only document what I personally see, so there is a good chance I will miss things. Photos of each described thing will be added below.

Firstly, a description of the site so all necessary context is provided. The area between the head of No. 1 Canning Graving Dock and the Lusitania Propeller has been fenced off, leaving access to still walk past the site and ensuring that the best vantage point, being the steps on the southern end of the Museum of Liverpool, still being accessible. [photo 1]

The site is home to several different vehicles, including a JCB 531-707M Telehandler [photo 2], a Ford transit van with a flatbed [photo 3], a van owned by Hightech Industrial Access [photo 4], a van owned by Accted Engineering [photo 4], and a car owned by Accted Engineering [photo 4]. There are also blue and red tubes connected to oxygen tanks and acetylene tanks respectively feeding into the ship for cutting torches which will be used throughout the process [photo 5]. There are a couple of containers around the site being used for storage [photo 6], and there is a green canteen for the workers [photo 7]. There are also loose pipes on the ground [photo 8]. Finally, there were lots of piles of OSB (oriented strand board) [photo 9], which were being used to form a mat on the quayside, presumably for some heavy machinery such as a crane to sit on when it is needed [photo 10 + 11].

Now, onto the ship itself. As of February 29th, the ship's rigging has been detached from her bulwarks but remains attached to her topmasts [photo 12]. Her deckhouse roof has been removed [photo 13] and its pieces lie on deck awaiting removal [photo 14]. Her deckhouse door is also sitting on deck detached from its usual location [photo 15]. Some minimal pieces of deck plating have been removed where her stern steps up [photo 16], and two lines have been cut on her bulwarks at her bow, one port, and one starboard [photo 17]. I presume this is to mark where a bow cut will be made so it can be lifted out. There is a yellow pipe leading into her forward main hatch [photo 18], and there are blue tubes linked to the oxygen tanks and red tubes linked to the acetylene tanks on the quayside running into both main hatches [photo 19]. Finally, there are additional side supports that have been installed on her port side [photo 20].