Hi Guys
Well you all generally right.
The
Tavarishch first came to the Tyne in 1994 and returned the following years in May 1995 for a planned £500.000 refit at the A & P Yard, however once drydocked it quickly became evident that this cost was way out and was re costed at £2m.
The Ukranian goverment could not afford this and she was then put into the Albert Edward dock and placed under arrest as unseaworthy, however the crew were just left stranded and was very much supported by local people and the Mission to seamen.
The Teessisde Develoment Corporation (TDC) got involved and a grand plan was put together for her to be part of a Museum and permission was granted for her to be towed to Middlesborough and she arrived on the 7th May 1997 by the tug
Phoenix Cross. with the original crew going home.
However the TDC fell foul of the Millenium Commission when funding was withdrawn and once again the ship was abandoned with another crew and Tovarishch was towed to Wilhelmshaven on 1st September 1999.
Mike
Tovarishch at Newcastle quay
Tovarishch in
A & P drydock
Tovarishch arriving in Middlesborough with
Phoenix Cross