PLANS are in motion to save Salcombe's much-loved ship MV Egremont, with a newly formed board of trustees working on an ambitious plan to secure her long-term future.

The new board of the Egremont Trust came together in January following a crisis in the ship's long history, when it was announced that the trust had gone into receivership just before Christmas.

The deal struck in January with receivers allowed the trust to continue, although its commercial sailing school, ICC Salcombe, had to be sold.

The new board planned to meet this week to come up with a 'credible' plan.

New chairman Martin Hodgson said the trust now hopes to raise up to £1.5m to transform the Egremont into a 'marine hub' fit for the 21st century.

'The first challenge,' he said, 'is to make sure the ship is safe, and hopefully this will give Adam [Parnell, Salcombe harbourmaster] and other water users some reassurance that we know what we're doing.'

In a letter circulated to Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary Association members, Mr Hodgson explained that a process of review to make sure that the Egremont complied with Maritime and Coastguard Agency rules was under way. He said the trust was in contact with the ship's surveyors.

'Our ultimate target is £1.5m,' he added, 'but this is made up of lots of elements

– refurbishing the ship, ­pontoons, dinghies etc.

'We've gone into this with open eyes. It's a long journey ahead, but lots of people have very fond memories of the ship and it's amazing how the recent problems have been a catalyst for people to come forward and offer help.'

At the Salcombe Harbour Board's meeting on Monday, February 9, Mr Parnell reported on the current situation with the Egremont. He explained that the trust now had responsibility for the ship, but that it had decided not to sell, but to try to raise the money to refurbish it.

He told members that at present the vessel's scrap value – dependent on the cost of steel – was higher than the cost of towing her away, and for this reason he was 'quite laid back' about the situation. The ferry's current condition, he reported, was not so bad as to be an immediate issue.

Mr Parnell also told members that ICC Salcombe had been bought from the receivers by a company that planned to continue to run the school from a base on land using the existing dinghies and moorings. He, along with other members, raised concerns that this might affect the future ­viability of the Egremont.

But Mr Hodgson said afterwards that the trust would definitely look to work in partnership, and not in competition, with the new school.

Harbour Board chair, Cllr Julian Brazil, said he felt they should 'wait and see' how the new trust board got on, and he wished it luck.

Anyone who would like to learn more or get in touch with the trust can visit www. egremonttrust.org.uk.