A short extract from “I was there”. A BBC Radio 5 Live show, hosted by Adrian Chiles.
He recollects the sinking of the TSMV Prince Ivanhoe, which foundered in front of his eyes in Port Eynon Bay on The Gower Coast, South Wales on the 3rd August 1981.
He is joined by Terry Sylvester, then Chairman of Waverley Excursions Ltd, Nicola Haywood Thomas from BBC Wales, Brian Jeffrey who was Acting Relief Mechanic on the Mumbles Lifeboat-and a passenger from the day, John Woodward.
The TSMV Shanklin was transformed in the winter of 1980-1981 and renamed Prince Ivanhoe, to act as a consort to the Paddle Steamer Waverley.
She started her cruising career on the Clyde in May 1981, before taking up her position on the Bristol Channel, where she was scheduled to provide a complete summer programme of cruises.
Sadly, tragedy struck her on the 3rd August 1981.After receiving a 60ft gash in her hull below the waterline. She was beached in Port Eynon Bay where all her 450 passengers were safely landed ashore. She was unsaveable and declared a Total Constructive Loss. Several attempts were made to scrap the ship on the beach, before the final remains were removed in 1985.
Video footage from her grounding on 3rd August 1981:
• TSMV Prince Ivanhoe Tr...
• TSMV Prince Ivanhoe Tr...
• TSMV Prince Ivanhoe Tr...