Update from David Wilson - Not good news. Sep 2016
During his visit to Malta in June 2016 David visited the rotting hulk that was RSL154.
He took the photographs below but more importantly reported that when he climbed up to take the interior shot the gunwhale (pronounced gunnel) crumbled in his hand.
This obviously indicates the advanced rot that has set in and would appear to deem this project at an end.
What a terrible, ignominious, end to a career that took this launch from 1955 in the UK, to the Far East (Penang), back to the UK and then to Malta in 1972.
I shall keep this page live for anyone that might be interested.
UPDATE FROM GEORGE SAID, CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE MALTA HISTORIC VEHICLES TRUST
The Malta Historic Vehicle Trust (MHVT) owns a large number of ex RAF fire engines, which served at airfields in Malta, as well as many other ex services vehicles.
we are currently negotiating with the government to be awarded a site for our museum. If we are successful, it is my intention to acquire the launch RSL1654 and to put it into our museum
she will not be restored to seaworthy condition but will be kept indoors as a monument to the Marine Craft Unit which was based here
but the clock is ticking and the launch is rotting so we have to move fast.
If you would like to support the MHVT you can join at this website. http://www.wirtartna.org/become-a-member.html
Membership of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna also gives access to many museums in Malta at reduced, or free of charge.
February 2016
She's still there in Marsaxlokk, James Schembri posted a photograph taken recently.
05 December 2014
Very heartening that I was contacted today by Daniel Cardona who spotted RSL 1654 while passing through Marsaxlokk. It's nice to know that she's still in position after I recently heard she was having her metal parts stripped off for scrap.
Daniel gave me a suggestion that the Aviation Museum might be interested in her.
He also sent me some updated photographs he took. Looks like the metalwork is still in place.
11 April 2013
I'm afraid it's been 3 weeks now and nothing heard from the owner or the Historic Vehicles Trust about updated offers from or to the owner of the RSL1654.
Not looking good. One person did point out that their is one little bright spot in that she is lying at home opposite the workshop where she was maintained by 1151 Marine Craft Unit.
From what I've heard there is some legal dispute ongoing about the land she is sitting on so she may have to be moved, one way or another either complete or broken up, before too long.
I am hoping that at that point the owner might reconsider his price so that at least it can be saved.
The photograph on this update was sent to me by James Schembri.
I'm afraid it's been 3 weeks now and nothing heard from the owner or the Historic Vehicles Trust about updated offers from or to the owner of the RSL1654.
Not looking good. One person did point out that their is one little bright spot in that she is lying at home opposite the workshop where she was maintained by 1151 Marine Craft Unit.
From what I've heard there is some legal dispute ongoing about the land she is sitting on so she may have to be moved, one way or another either complete or broken up, before too long.
I am hoping that at that point the owner might reconsider his price so that at least it can be saved.
The photograph on this update was sent to me by James Schembri.
23 May 2013
This may well be the last post on this website. Nothing heard for a fortnight since the owner of the launch let the Trust know what he wanted for RSL1654.
Fundraising for this amount (23,000 Euros) is an enormous task which I don't think is feasible.
If there is a further update I'll remove/update this post.
On this page I will keep progress of the restoration updated
13 May 2013
Tony Gatt has contacted George Said, Malta Historic Vehicles Trust Chairman, with a figure that is out of our reach.
We would need substantial room for negotiation but it's not what I was hoping for. This could mean the end of the road for the launch.
We would need substantial room for negotiation but it's not what I was hoping for. This could mean the end of the road for the launch.
09 May 2013 - Nothing heard yet, waiting on the edge of my seat!
30 April 2013 - Owner Found!
It has been confirmed that the owner is Anthony Gatt, of Zetjun, and he has been contacted by George Said. George is the Chairman of the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust. Hope some agreement about transfer to the Trust can be arranged next week.
29 April 2013 - Lots of offers to contact the owner but nothing forthcoming as yet.
It's amazing how many people have come up and said they know the owner and when you ask for contact details nothing happens.
Ah well, we can just plug away and hope someone actually does come up trumps with some contact details.
In the meantime I'm trying to find a source for very cheap accommodation in the Marsaxlokk, Birzibugga, Marsaskala area for when I come over. I presume I'll come over, if the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust will put up with me for a couple of weeks.
Ah well, we can just plug away and hope someone actually does come up trumps with some contact details.
In the meantime I'm trying to find a source for very cheap accommodation in the Marsaxlokk, Birzibugga, Marsaskala area for when I come over. I presume I'll come over, if the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust will put up with me for a couple of weeks.
27 April 2013 - We are in The Malta Independent
The 'breakthrough' of 4 days ago has not yet produced the result I expected, i.e. making contact with the owner, but through additional posts on Facebook I was contacted by a journalist with The Malta Independent newspaper. The result of this was an article in yesterdays edition.
Click here to read the article.
I have also had a number of comments on the facebook and messages through the contact page giving encouragement and useful information about how to find out records about the launch.
Click here to read the article.
I have also had a number of comments on the facebook and messages through the contact page giving encouragement and useful information about how to find out records about the launch.
23 April 2013 - Breakthrough?
On the 22 April Kevin Aquilina posted information about this project, and the website, on a facebook page for 'Malta Dizastru TOTALI !!!!!!!!'
Because of this publicity I had a response from Francis Grech who said he thinks he knows the owner, Tony Gatt, who lives in Zetjun. He did not give me any contact details so I've asked him to get his Uncle Tony Grech, residing at Ton Ter, Triq il Kavalerizza Marsaxlokk, to get in touch with me, or James Schembri, as Tony knows him better.
I'm sure it's the right person as Francis said that Tony Gatt also used to own the restaurant (was the RAF sailing club) attached to the land where the launch is. I know the owner also owned that building because he 'Had to sell it' for some government reason!
Awaiting follow up on this with the contact details but I have since been contacted by the newspaper 'Malta Independent' that wants to do an article on the restoration project.
The publicity will be very welcome, I suspect we will have a lot of fund raising to do!
Because of this publicity I had a response from Francis Grech who said he thinks he knows the owner, Tony Gatt, who lives in Zetjun. He did not give me any contact details so I've asked him to get his Uncle Tony Grech, residing at Ton Ter, Triq il Kavalerizza Marsaxlokk, to get in touch with me, or James Schembri, as Tony knows him better.
I'm sure it's the right person as Francis said that Tony Gatt also used to own the restaurant (was the RAF sailing club) attached to the land where the launch is. I know the owner also owned that building because he 'Had to sell it' for some government reason!
Awaiting follow up on this with the contact details but I have since been contacted by the newspaper 'Malta Independent' that wants to do an article on the restoration project.
The publicity will be very welcome, I suspect we will have a lot of fund raising to do!
14 March 2013
Many thanks to George Palmer, who lives on Gozo, for today's update where he has told me he met his friend, a policeman in Marsaxlokk, and they found the location of the launch.
They also found a Marsaxlokk resident who knows the owner, he lives at the northern end of Malta. Hoping to get contact details early next week.
Thank you very much to George who suffered a return journey to Gozo in a force 9 Gale!
Image is from http://www.maltashipphotos.com/
They also found a Marsaxlokk resident who knows the owner, he lives at the northern end of Malta. Hoping to get contact details early next week.
Thank you very much to George who suffered a return journey to Gozo in a force 9 Gale!
Image is from http://www.maltashipphotos.com/
02 February 2013
It's early days but there has been some headway made.
Tony Coleman contacted me to say that he had spoken to the owner who would be very happy for the launch to go to a good home, for free if he knows it's going to be used and looked after.
He still has the Rolls Royce engines which he runs on a regular basis to ensure they are kept in good condition.
We don't yet have contact details but I'm confident that this will be achieved very soon.
Tony emailed me to say;
"He (the owner) owns the piece of land that the boat stands on, and used to own the Cafe that stood in front of the boat until the government 'bought' the land and built
their own restaurant.
He told me that he had owned the boat for a long time,and decided to take her out of the water for a re-fit approx 10 years ago.The company he hired to crane her out
put her on a cradle that was not strong enough and the inevitable happened,the keel broke.He then had to take them to Court and claimed compensation which was used to
eventually fit a new keel and a stronger trailer/cradle was put under her. It had taken some time for all this to be sorted,and his planned re-fit just sort of got put back,and never
happened. Apparently a man from somewhere in the London area showed an interest a few years ago,but never got back in touch with the owner.When i showed interest and
asked if i could go into his yard to take some photos he was over the moon that someone saw the boat as he did,and let me in for about 30 mins.
He said he just wanted her to go to a good home as his family was not interested and she is too good just to let go to waste.
He also mentioned that he has got the original ROLLS-ROYCE Diesel engines which he took out when she was craned out.He turns them over on a regular basis and they should be
able to be refitted as they are not seized,but I did not see them."
Another Englishman, George Palmer who lives in Malta, has a friend who is a policeman in Marsaxlokk. He has asked if he can found out who the owner is.
This is all very encouraging and the information has been passed on to the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust who are very keen to see what can be done to save this last relic of the Marine Craft Unit 1151.
Tony Coleman contacted me to say that he had spoken to the owner who would be very happy for the launch to go to a good home, for free if he knows it's going to be used and looked after.
He still has the Rolls Royce engines which he runs on a regular basis to ensure they are kept in good condition.
We don't yet have contact details but I'm confident that this will be achieved very soon.
Tony emailed me to say;
"He (the owner) owns the piece of land that the boat stands on, and used to own the Cafe that stood in front of the boat until the government 'bought' the land and built
their own restaurant.
He told me that he had owned the boat for a long time,and decided to take her out of the water for a re-fit approx 10 years ago.The company he hired to crane her out
put her on a cradle that was not strong enough and the inevitable happened,the keel broke.He then had to take them to Court and claimed compensation which was used to
eventually fit a new keel and a stronger trailer/cradle was put under her. It had taken some time for all this to be sorted,and his planned re-fit just sort of got put back,and never
happened. Apparently a man from somewhere in the London area showed an interest a few years ago,but never got back in touch with the owner.When i showed interest and
asked if i could go into his yard to take some photos he was over the moon that someone saw the boat as he did,and let me in for about 30 mins.
He said he just wanted her to go to a good home as his family was not interested and she is too good just to let go to waste.
He also mentioned that he has got the original ROLLS-ROYCE Diesel engines which he took out when she was craned out.He turns them over on a regular basis and they should be
able to be refitted as they are not seized,but I did not see them."
Another Englishman, George Palmer who lives in Malta, has a friend who is a policeman in Marsaxlokk. He has asked if he can found out who the owner is.
This is all very encouraging and the information has been passed on to the Malta Historic Vehicles Trust who are very keen to see what can be done to save this last relic of the Marine Craft Unit 1151.