As scheduled, on 17 April 2024 the preserved motor vessel Balmoral left her berth at M Shed in Bristol and sailed under her own power down the harbour to the Albion Dockyard, adjacent to SS Great Britain, for hull repairs and corrosion prevention funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
After careful maneuvering she was placed stern first in the drydock, which was drained the following morning. The hull was washed and ultrasonically checked, and fortunately no unexpected repairs were found to be necessary.
The return of the freshly painted ship, with her integrity ensured for another five years, is eagerly awaited so that she can resume her educational and social uses while fund-raising continues when she is returned to sea.
