Save Hawaii’s Sinking Ship!

August 7th, 2008

The Falls of Clyde is the only surviving iron-hulled, four-masted full-rigged ship, and the only surviving sail-driven oil tanker in the world.  She’s a veteran of the 19th-century India trade and one of Hawaii’s national landmarks.  When the Republic of Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1900, it took a special act of the U.S. Congress to secure the foreign-built ship the right to fly the Stars and Stripes.

Falls of Clyde was donated to the Bishop Museum and opened to the public in 1968; declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1989.  It’s been a museum, moored at Pier 7, Honolulu Harbor, as part of the Hawaii Maritime Center.

Now it’s really endangered.  Unless a buyer steps up with the millions of dollars needed to save it, it’ll be sunk by September – on purpose – 15 miles off Honolulu Harbor.

The leaky Falls of Clyde is currently being kept afloat by shore-based electrical pumps.  If efforts to save her are successful, you’ll have one more maritime venue to explore when you visit.

In the meantime, if you have a few million discretionary dollars to spend on your Hawaii vacation …

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Entry Filed under: Oahu