PART of Southampton's maritime heritage is in danger of being broken up and sold for scrap.

An ambitious project to restore a 93-year-old vessel that took part in the D-Day landings could be sunk by soaring costs and the sheer scale of the work required.

The Tug Tender Calshot has spent more than a year at a shipyard overlooking the River Itchen after being moved from Southampton docks.

Daily Echo: The Tug Tender Calshot has spent more than a year in a shipyard overlooking the River Itchen.The Tug Tender Calshot has spent more than a year in a shipyard overlooking the River Itchen.

Project manager Glen Read said: "Calshot was acquired for a nominal sum from the TT Calshot Trust, who had tried to preserve her, with very limited access to funds, for more than 20 years.

"Her condition was known to be extremely fragile but the sale offered a chance to renovate, rebuild and repurpose her."

Mr Read said a "substantial" amount of money had been spent over the past 14 months on stripping down the vessel and making a full survey of her condition.

The widespread extent of her deterioration meant she needed a total rebuild.

Daily Echo: The Tug Tender Calshot has spent more than a year at a shipyard overlooking the River Itchen.The Tug Tender Calshot has spent more than a year at a shipyard overlooking the River Itchen.

Mr Read said "changes in world events" had resulted in substantial cost inflation and disruption to supply lines, making the scheme economically unviable.

"The painful decision has therefore been made to recommend cessation of the project."

Information about escalating costs and the lack of any viable commercial outcome had been sent to the Isle of Man company that owned Calshot.

A decision would be made on whether to fully dismantle the vessel and send the steel to be repurposed.

"Every possible avenue has been explored and every effort made by the whole team at the yard to save TT Calshot," said Mr Read.

"Many items of importance to the original ship have been saved and restored."

Reacting to the revelation that Calshot could be scrapped Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: "This is such sad news.

"The council’s recent bid for City of Culture 2025, highlights perfectly the need to preserve our cultural heritage in addition to celebrating our creative industries."

Calshot was launched in 1929 and helped manoeuvre the world’s greatest ocean liners as they entered the port of Southampton.

In 1944 she was among more than 7,000 vessels that took part in the Normandy invasion, transporting parts of the famous Mulberry Harbour across the Channel.

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