How the SS Explorer Was Saved: A Look Back to 1994
From the Chair
We regularly tell the history of the SS Explorer from commissioning by the Scottish Home Department; construction and launch at Alexander Hall & Co in Aberdeen in 1955; entering service with the Marine Lab in 1956; decommissioned in 1984, sold for scrap and rescued by Aberdeen Maritime Museum; their attempts and eventual failure to find a berth for the vessel; the purchase of the vessel by the Society and the eventual arrival of the vessel in Leith in 1996.
However, alongside this is the story of the SS Explorer Preservation Society itself which stems from a public meeting in Aberdeen in 1994 in light of the news that the Museum had decided to be sell Explorer for scrap for the second time in its life.
The formation of the Society began with a meeting in Cowdray Hall in Aberdeen on the 9th of December 1994. We don’t have the original invoice (1) for the hire of the hall, but we do have a reminder from the City of Aberdeen District Council dated 18th April 1995 noting that their invoice which was dated 20th March 1995 was still outstanding and demanding ‘settlement …..without further delay’. As you can see this includes a handwritten notation ‘Paid 5/5/95’
At the meeting, it was agreed that a Society be formed as a Company limited by guarantee and registered as Charity. Iain Smith & Company – Solicitors and Estate Agents in Aberdeen – were instructed to carry out this work as evidenced by their invoice (2) of 26th April 1995 which includes a handwritten notation ‘Paid 12/6/95’.
On 9th March 1995, the Society reached agreement with Isleburn Ltd – shipbreakers in Invergordon – to purchase SS Explorer ‘excluding main engine’ for £10,000 along with some additional costs for towage and mooring (£500) and a notation that this was paid on 10th March 1995 (3).
The exclusion of the main engine is a condition of Isleburn’s purchase agreement from the museum which required the engine to be retained after the vessel was scrapped to be returned to Aberdeen for display in the museum. This formed part of an original agreement between the Society and the Museum which still exists today – although we understand that the Museum is no longer interested.
As we know, the vessel was returned to the Cromarty Firth anchorage, struck by the Boa Eskil and with the insurance proceeds the Society arranged to have the vessel towed to Leith.
We also have the invoice (4) from J.P. Knight (Caledonian) Ltd. for towage of Explorer by their tug Kinross from Invergordon on 22nd September 1996 to hand over to Leith Tugs on 23rd September 1996 with a paid notation from 30th October.
And just one of those spooky connections - 23rd September is my birthday!
Richard
Invoice (1)
Reminder notice from the City of Aberdeen District Council dated 18th April 1995, referencing the original hall hire invoice for the founding meeting at Cowdray Hall. Marked as paid on 5th May 1995.
Invoice (2)
Invoice from Iain Smith & Company, Solicitors and Estate Agents, dated 26th April 1995 for the formation of the SS Explorer Preservation Society as a company and registered charity. Marked as paid on 12th June 1995.
Invoice (3)
Agreement with Isleburn Ltd, shipbreakers in Invergordon, dated 9th March 1995 for the purchase of SS Explorer (excluding main engine) for £10,000, plus costs for towage and mooring. Payment noted on 10th March 1995.
Invoice (4)
Invoice from J.P. Knight (Caledonian) Ltd. for towage of SS Explorer by the tug Kinross from Invergordon to Leith, dated September 1996. Payment recorded on 30th October 1996.
