Wooden tall ship capsizes off Welsh coast

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

A wooden tall ship, used as a sail training vessel, has capsized off the Welsh coast

The converted Swedish trawler TS Britta sank just off the outside wall of the Port Penrhyn before Christmas.

The Baltic trader had originally come to the town after sailing from Uddevalla in Sweden, in 2020.

Secured

A port spokesperson said the ship had since been “secured and made safe” in terms of oil spills or pollution, with its fuel being taken off. “It is an ongoing situation, it is being managed and has been made safe,” they said.

“It is not in an area that is going to cause anyone using the port any problems. It will be insurance assessed it, and it is anticipated that it will be moved in the coming weeks.”

In a statement, the ship’s skipper Chris Wren said: “Although TS ‘Britta’ has been in Port Penrhyn (for) three and a half years, on November 30, at low water she fell over into her side.
This was a disaster for the owner who has been doing charity work afloat since 1995, and had sunk all his savings into the venture.

“It is expected the vessel will be disposed of shortly sadly ending this charitable project to transform lives.”

The TS Britta Transforming Lives at Sea had been providing educational and adventure experiences of seafaring.

The tall ship also features in a number of You Tube videos.