Marine owner to refloat project after hotel boat sinks
A 36-metre paddle steamer sank off the Welsh coast while en route to Coleraine, Co Derry. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association A 36-metre paddle steamer sank off the Welsh coast while en route to Coleraine, Co Derry. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association
ByBy Mairead Holland
THE owner of a riverboat hotel which sank en route to the north coast has said he is "more determined than ever" to refloat the project.
Seamus Carey, owner of Crannagh Marina Complex, outside Coleraine, said that while he was "extremely disappointed" at the setback he is already looking at options for a replacement boat.
"We hope to have this secured by the end of the summer and in operation before 2019," he added.
Twenty full-time and 15 part-time jobs were set to be created in the project, which had been described as Ireland's first floating hotel.
However, the 36-metre MV Oliver Cromwell sank just 200 miles into its three-day journey as it was being towed to its new home on the River Bann.
A 36-metre paddle steamer sank off the Welsh coast while en route to Coleraine, Co Derry. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association A 36-metre paddle steamer sank off the Welsh coast while en route to Coleraine, Co Derry. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The 36-metre vessel did not have anyone on board when it sank. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The 36-metre vessel did not have anyone on board when it sank. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The paddle steamer was en route to Coleraine, Co Derry, when it sank off the Welsh coast. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The paddle steamer was en route to Coleraine, Co Derry, when it sank off the Welsh coast. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The 36-metre MV Oliver Cromwell sank off the Welsh coast on Saturday. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The 36-metre MV Oliver Cromwell sank off the Welsh coast on Saturday. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The MV Oliver Cromwell had been planned to serve as Ireland's first 'floating hotel' on the River Bann. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association The MV Oliver Cromwell had been planned to serve as Ireland's first 'floating hotel' on the River Bann. Picture by Jay Garden, RNLI, Press Association
The marina had bought the vessel for £245,000 and had planned a £100,000 internal refit, to transform it into a 15-bedroom static hotel and restaurant.
This was part of a £500,000 development project for the marina.
Mr Carey said, "Fortunately, there was no one on board at the time and no one was injured. In line with procedure, an investigation has been initiated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch to establish the circumstances and likely causes around the sinking of the vessel.
"As there was no fuel or oils in the vessel therefore there is no risk of any sea pollution."
The paddle steamer, MV Oliver Cromwell, in its better days The paddle steamer, MV Oliver Cromwell, in its better days
