What's going on on the island? People rasing money to sink Ark Royal for it to become an artificial reef, an atraction for divers?
And how could that be a "positive outcome for the iconic ship"?
Sure it would be nice to dive around a shipwreck, but a former flagship? There should be more suitable ways of commemorating here.
Aircraft carrier sinking plans given £3m boost
Friday, December 23, 2011 - Western Morning News
The charity behind plans to sink the Ark Royal off the coast of Torbay to create a money-spinning artificial reef has secured the £3 million bond needed to purchase the ship.
The latest announcement comes just weeks after Wreck the World, the charity behind the idea to see the Royal Navy's former flagship aircraft carrier sunk to create a reef, launched a public appeal to find the money.
It was announced on Tuesday that A&P in Falmouth, a global company dealing in ship repair and marine services, would foot the bill.
Peter Child, managing director of A&P Falmouth, said: "We are pleased to have agreed in principal to act as parent company guarantor, which in turn would see us preparing the ship as an artificial reef for divers.
"This is a credible project and would be a positive outcome for the iconic ship, as well as both the South West tourism and ship repair industries."
Michael Byfield, spokesman for Wreck the World, said the news had come as a pleasant boost to the charity's ambitions.
He said: "We are now a much more viable entity. We have all things in place: the money, the lease of the seabed, and now the security bond.
"We are even closer than ever to sinking the vessel."
Wreck the World has already pledged the £3.5 million needed to submit a tender offer for the decommissioned vessel.
The charity plans to sink the ship in Lyme Bay to create one of the biggest diving attractions in Europe.
The £3 million security "deposit" on the vessel, which A&P will now provide, will be returned by the Navy after the project is completed.
The project won the backing of Torbay Council earlier in the year and it is estimated some 500 people a day could visit the wreck, potentially pumping around £11 million a year into the local economy. ...
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And a funny story as well this evening:
Russian aircraft carrier caught dumping rubbish into sea off Scottish coast
Dec 15 2011 - By Charlie Gall
RUSSIAN sailors tipped rubbish into the Moray Firth as they sheltered from stormy weather.
The crew of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov were spotted chucking binbags into the sea – a sanctuary for seals and bottlenose dolphins.
The 65,000-ton ship was one of several Russian navy vessels sheltering from the the weather in international waters.
A Royal Navy destroyer was scrambled in a security scare after the aircraft carrier, without warning, came within 30 miles of Britain for the first time in 20 years.
In the past, a Nimrod aircraft from nearby RAF Kinloss would have been dispatched but the Tory Government scrapped the base and cancelled a new fleet of spy planes.
Instead, HMS York travelled 1000 miles from Portsmouth to shadow the ships seeking shelter in the firth.
One observer said: “Meanwhile, our fleet of reconnaissance aircraft are being melted down to make fizzy drink cans.” ...
