The Harbors Division has set up a liaison with David O’Neill, who is the lead in the Scottish project to return Falls of Clyde to Scotland. They have requested details of the plan that is being developed to return the ship to her place of origin. FFOC President Bruce McEwan will be meeting with David O’Neill in Glasgow in early June to discuss progress.

Members of FFOC’s board met with representatives of the Harbors Division, Coast Guard, and Clean Islands Council to discuss FFOC’s plan to remove 50,000 gallons of ballast water from the ship. Prior to moving the ship, the ballast water will need to be removed so we are experimenting with the system that has been set up to make sure removal will go smoothly.

FFOC has received some publicity with an article in the U.S. national magazine The Highlander, which is directed to people of Scottish heritage in the U.S. There are thousands of subscribers, so it is hoped we will generate some interest

Friends of Falls of Clyde started an Indiegogo campaign on April 15, which will run for 60 days. We ask everyone who is following us to make a donation and use your networks to get others to support this campaign. Our goal now is to raise funds to help prepare the Falls of Clyde to return to where she was built in Scotland. The message is clear from the State of Hawaii that there is no longer support from the DOT-Harbors Division. The most viable plan to save the ship is to get her back to Scotland. If we can show that we have the support on our side, it will bolster the Scots to make their side work. We have also directed the Harbors Division to have their liaison contact and work with David O’Neill in Scotland, since he has not yet been communicated with by anyone.
We are also working on a plan to offload some ballast water. Ultimately we will need to lighten the ship before she is moved so we want to test a process we have put in place.