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Powerboat collection speeds way to safer future in Portsmouth
Three historic naval vessels have found a new home at Portsmouth dockyard.
The British Military Powerboat Trust is moving its collection to the city four years after it was forced to leave a Southampton shipyard.
It comes as a boost to The News Save Our Ships campaign which aims to preserve navy vessels for future generations.
Group spokesman Richard Hellyer said Portsmouth was the best place for the James Bond-style powerboats.
He said: 'With 600,000 visitors passing through the gates of Portsmouth dockyard, the trust's assets will go from being seen by the few to being seen by the many.'
In 2005 the group was forced to quit the old Husband's shipyard at Cracknore Hard in Marchwood.
It was an historic site itself, being home to some of the famous Little Ships that rescued 300,000 Allied troops from the Dunkirk beaches in 1940.
Most of the trust's boats were either destroyed or moved after the workshops closed, until Mr Hellyer appealed to Peter Goodship of Portsmouth's Naval Base Property Trust.
The first boat has already arrived at the dockyard.
The 64-year-old Fast Motor Boat 43957, that served alongside the fourth version of the navy's aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, recently went through a 45,000 restoration and was taken by the property trust's curator and boatkeeper, Brian Patterson.
He said: 'It's wonderful to be able to add some real James Bond-style boats to our growing collection.
'My volunteers are really going to enjoy working on them.'
The next vessel to arrive will be the Sea Plane Tender (ST) 1502. She will be delivered to the historic dockyard by sea on Saturday, July 18.
The 1942 Royal Air Force craft was used during and after the war as a ferry between seaplanes and shore bases and also served as a rescue boat for airmen stranded in coastal waters. The final delivery will be the 16-ft fast motor boat FMD5004.
Mr Hellyer said: 'The past few years have been difficult ones.
'While the name of the trust will cease to be, this is merely the end of our first chapter and the beginning of an exciting future with Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust.'
SHE'S ALL SHIPSHAPE
The Fast Motor Boat 43957 that has been transferred to Portsmouth is capable of 20 knots and is ready to use.
Peter Goodship, chief executive of Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, has said it could be used to ferry passengers from the Historic Dockyard across the harbour to Priddy's Hard, Gosport.
Mr Goodship said: 'It's a fantastic vessel and we hope it will play a full part in the life of the dockyard.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
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