[Bob Theman]

I hear that the RN is to surrender ownership of HMS VICTORY , the oldest commissioned warship in the world, to the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
As a commissioned warship all costs currently rest upon the Defence Budget alone (and she needs some real money spent on her).
As a museum ship it will be open to the new owners to seek funding from private individuals, corporate organisations and charitable instotutions even the National Lotterry. Also as a non-HMS she could be rented out for variety of private functions (no doubt at some serious cost).
It probably will be allowed to retain the title HMS and wear the White Ensign ( a la BELFAST) by special dispensation from the Admiralty Board. Also it is expected that uniformed RN personnel will still "man" her and attend to day to day management, visitors etc.
Second Sea Lord indicates that he intends that she will still be his Flagship.

Oh well, I suppose it had to happen in these hard times but I can't help uttering a groan.

[Varley]

Another democratic decision? Was anyone consulted?

[TCC]

Originally Posted by Varley

Another democratic decision? Was anyone consulted?

Yes, the Treasury!

[NickNZ]

It can't have been an easy decision. If the Argies had gone back into the Falklands, she would probably have been expected to sail South, along with HMS Warrior.
The Argies may take a similar view as they did when the withdrawal of HMS Endurance was made!

[willhastie]

is there no pride left in the old country ?.

[Manxman 52]

As succesive goverments have slashed the Royal Navy back so much that is no longer considered a navy but a coastal defence force (or soon will be) it means we no longer need HMS Victory to remain in commission as she would soon be bigger in size than most of our current warships!!!

[Stevo]

Apart from tradition, this is a good move for Victory primarily due to benefitting from lottery funding. It's no secret the old girl needs a lot of money spent on her and so if this is the best way forward, so be it. Victory will still have a navy presence and will always be a symbol of the great Royal Navy past and it's traditions this of course runs through her oak veins.
Victory is of course a tourist attraction too and one of the many problems the historic dockyard has is that all the attractions are run by seperate trusts/bodies. With Victory now under the RNM guidance this can be viewed as a positive step towards centralisation.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I am saddened by this. I think that as a nation we can and should maintain our symbols of national pride without recourse to money from gambling. In the scale of things, giving VICTORY the full refit that she needs would not cost much.

Will we be putting the Queen up for lotterry funding?

[McCloggie]

I am not really surprised but it is sad, very sad.

Another slice in the death of a thousand cuts that the RN is going through.

McC

[Satanic Mechanic]

I'd wait and see how it turns out first, private does not always mean bad.

It would be open to all sorts of new funding and will be away from the lunatic bureaucracy of MoD. Plus of course it will be self policing given the amount of enthusiasts for the vessel - just look on this site alone. Its unlikely that it will be allowed to go to ruin without a huge outcry from the interested public.

These are austere times for all Governments and freeing the Victory up to the far more efficient workings of the private sector may not be a bad thing. I certainly hope it isnt.

[Molls-Phot]

In principle it's a positive move that will help preserve her but I can't help feeling certain aspects of the 'privatisation', such as hiring her out for commercial corporate functions, is sacrilege.

[senior pilot]

come on folks she is not going anywhere and the occasinal event on her would be a great boost for the country how many other countries have such a magnificent ship as her to show how great ship builders we are.

[Stevo]

Victory has to pay her way, and if she is going to absorb huge sums of money in restoration, we should see something back. Is it any different to HMY Britannia, Buckingham Palace allowing visitors, or Westminster Abbey being an attraction?