#BringViolaHome - Afloat.ie last year reported on an ambitious project by SMS Towage to bring back to the UK an abandoned trawler now 109 years old from South Georgia, the remote South Atlantic island.

The Viola, a derelict North Sea trawler launched in Beverley in 1906, was requisitioned in 1914 by the Admiralty and set sail on a mission to hunt U-boats and sweep for mines during World War 1. She was involved in the sinking of two U-boats and despite a campaign led by Dr. Robb Robinson of Hull University has she has yet to return to her home port of Hull.

For more than a decade Dr. Robb Robinson of Hull University has campaigned to bring the 'Viola' a former North Sea trawler from South Georgia to its homeport of Hull, 100 years after she sailed to take up her part in the war.

Good news has arisen as results from a feasibility study on the veterean vessel was carried out by Beverley-based Solis Marine, which were very encouraging. Using all the data provided from SMS Towage of Viola in South Georgia and that from the original salvage team, Solis were able to outline options for her return to Hull.

All this data was presented to Hull City Council during the Spring and SMS Towage are pleased to report that it was very well received. Hull City Council are currently looking at options to re-vamp Hull’s waterfront and it is hoped that one day Viola can form part of a new fishing heritage location in the city.

Associated British Ports have expressed their desire to support the project and in the last few weeks they, together with Paul Escreet of SMS Towage, have conducted a site survey of potential final resting place for Viola.

An official request, together with details of recovery plan and proposed end use, have now been submitted to the Governor of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands to consider. We await to hear if our request for the recovery of Viola has been granted.