Aberdeen-built ship to sail again after becoming a tourist attraction in Texas

Frank Cassidy -

A ship built in Aberdeen 134 years ago which went on to become a tourist attraction in Texas will soon be sailing again.

The Elissa was built by Alexander Hall and Co in 1877 and changed name, and ownership, several times — even surviving a hurricane in her present home.

After being bought and sold to Norway, then Sweden and finally Greece in 1961, a nautical archaeologist there noticed her poor condition and decided to save the Elissa.

Peter Throckmorton, from Piraeus, began restoring the three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship and her 19 sails.

In 1970 with assistance from San Francisco Maritime Museum she was bought for $14,000 (£7,540).

Restored in Galveston harbour, Texas, she is now owned and run by the Galveston Historical Foundation as a tourist destination and landmark.

However local laws meant a mandatory dry-dock inspection would have to be carried out by the United States Coast Guard.

This revealed a number of repairs must be carried out on the hull, but that also meant she would be fit to sail again.

The Elissa returned to the Texas Seaport Museum on Wednesday so the first phase of the repair work can begin.

She will then return to dry dock in October for the final phase of the estimated $2million (£1.07million) hull repair for return to full sailing status.

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