2. FALLS OF CLYDE
Scottish built, wrought iron hull, fully rigged
ship/barque, part of the Matson Line that traded from
from San Francisco & other West Coast ports to
Honolulu.
Ship rescued from breakers and towed to
Honolulu in the 1960s, restored and then
allowed to languish with minimal care until in
an unsafe condition with falling rigging, rot in
her topmasts/jib boom and deteriorated stand-
ing rig. Hull in poor material condition and in
imminent danger of sinking at Honolulu
Maritime Museum berth downtown.
Ship advertised around world, no takers.
Bishop Museum decides for at-sea disposal of
vessel at 15 mile disposal site in deep water.
3.
4. The ship was down-rigged by Brian Toss’s
crew in July and August of 2008 with all rig-
ging safely removed and the remaining spars
properly strengthened.
The stem and stern of the ship were strength-
ened with the addition of steel plate, steel rods,
underwater patching, removal of rudder and
the removal of the bow sprit and figurehead.
A disposal site was chosen and approved by
the EPA & USCG and the vessel was rigged for
tow after approval was obtained for the Tow
Plan and Ship Disposal Plan.
5. Decision Process:
1.) No funding source for restoration,
2.) Vessel in danger of losing part/all of standing rig,
3.) Danger to adjacent commercial berth and Museum
structure due to possible loss of stability and capsizing,
4.) Extremely poor hull condition with wasted bulkheads,
framing & decks.
5.) Loss of hull insurance,
6.) No ‘White Knight’ to take vessel away,
7.) Scrapping not an alternative in Hawaii.
Decision made for at-sea disposal of vessel.
6.
7.
8. THE FOLLOWING
PHTOGRAPHS DEPICT
HISTORICAL PHOTOS
OF FALLS OF CLYDE
DURING HER SAILING
DAYS AND BEFORE
DOWN-RIGGING AND
PREPARATION OF
VESSEL FOR DEEP SEA
DISPOSAL.
24. The rig was in poor (and dangerous) condition.
The bowsprit was failing and in danger of falling at any time.
Wooden topmasts were rotted and were be removed with associated
damaged/rotted yards and standing/running rigging.
Forecastle & Maindeck has serious wooden deck issues and needs replacement
throughout.
Interior support scantlings/frames for all spaces are in poor/fair condition and
require extensive repair/replacement.
All interior hull transverse and longitudinal bulkheads holed, or are non-existent
and are non-watertight and require repair/replacement.
Extensive shell plating is holed and/or suffering > 80% plate loss.
Many temporary wooden plugs and/or DC plugs were keeping out water.
Extensive separation of shell plating from structural framing due to corrosion of
rivet and plate lap seams.
New coating system failed in Tanks # 4 & 5 with resultant rust/scale. Rust/scale
and oil waste from tanks was sandblasted and being dumped into lazarette &
Tanks # 4 & 5.
No flooding alarm system installed. No standby pumping capability aboard.
Rudder assembly totally rotted away at waterline and unsupported.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36. Side shell framing separated from shell plating as
rivets have failed.
37. Wooden plugs keeping sea water from
sinking FOC, aft.
