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Fire on Cutty Sark 'suspicious' Fire on Cutty Sark 'suspicious'
(40 minutes later)
A fire which severely damaged the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark is being treated as suspicious by police. A blaze on board the famous 19th Century ship Cutty Sark may have been started deliberately, police believe.
The ship, which was undergoing a £25m restoration project, is kept in a dry dock at Greenwich in south-east London. The ship, which was undergoing a £25m restoration, is kept in a dry dock at Greenwich in south-east London.
An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper had to be evacuated when the fire broke out in the early hours.An area around the 138-year-old tea clipper had to be evacuated when the fire broke out in the early hours.
A Cutty Sark Trust spokesman said 50% of the ship was removed for restoration work. He said the trust was devastated but it could have been worse.A Cutty Sark Trust spokesman said 50% of the ship was removed for restoration work. He said the trust was devastated but it could have been worse.
Charred plankingCharred planking
The decks of the ship are said to be unsalvageable. But much of the boat, including the masts, had already been taken away as part of the restoration project.The decks of the ship are said to be unsalvageable. But much of the boat, including the masts, had already been taken away as part of the restoration project.
Chris Livett, chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, speaking at the scene, said: "We had removed 50% of the planking, so 50% of the planking wasn't on site and that's safe and secure.Chris Livett, chairman of Cutty Sark Enterprises, speaking at the scene, said: "We had removed 50% of the planking, so 50% of the planking wasn't on site and that's safe and secure.
In Pictures: Cutty Sark fire 'History itself has been lost'In Pictures: Cutty Sark fire 'History itself has been lost'
"And from where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on."And from where I stand there is not a huge amount of damage to the planking that was left on.
"There are pockets of charred planking and some have gone, but it doesn't look as bad as first envisaged.""There are pockets of charred planking and some have gone, but it doesn't look as bad as first envisaged."
Police are analysing CCTV images which are thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started.Police are analysing CCTV images which are thought to show people in the area shortly before the fire started.
A police spokesman said: "There have been reports of a silver car seen leaving the scene but nothing at this stage to link it to the fire."
Insp Bruce Middlemiss, from the Metropolitan Police, said detectives were looking into the possibility that the fire had been started deliberately and would like to speak to some people seen in the area last night.Insp Bruce Middlemiss, from the Metropolitan Police, said detectives were looking into the possibility that the fire had been started deliberately and would like to speak to some people seen in the area last night.
"There is indication that there were people in the area at the time when the fire initially started, that's come from the local borough CCTV," he said. However, a spokesman for London Fire Brigade said it was "pure speculation" to say the cause of the fire was suspicious.
"There's no indication at this stage that the people that are on that CCTV footage are actually involved in the incident, but may merely be witnesses."
However, a spokesman for London Fire Brigade said it was "pure speculation" to say the the cause of the fire was suspicious.
He added: "Once the fire is out, we will send our fire investigators in to establish what started it."
Firefighters were called to the scene at 0445 BST and the flames were put out by 0700 BST.Firefighters were called to the scene at 0445 BST and the flames were put out by 0700 BST.
CUTTY SARK Built in 1869 at Dumbarton on the River ClydeDesigned by Hercules LintonFirst voyage February 1870280ft (85m) longMain mast stood 152ft (46.3m) above the deckAttracts 15m visitors a yearPreserved as a tribute to merchant navy workers Send us your comments CUTTY SARK Built in 1869 at Dumbarton on the River ClydeDesigned by Hercules LintonFirst voyage February 1870210ft (64m) longMain mast stood 152ft (46.3m) above the deckAttracts 15m visitors a yearPreserved as a tribute to merchant navy workers Send us your comments
Speaking to BBC News, the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said: "When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself.Speaking to BBC News, the chief executive of the Cutty Sark Trust, Richard Doughty, said: "When you lose original fabric, you lose the touch of the craftsman, you lose history itself.
"And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock.""And what is special about Cutty Sark is the timbers, the iron frames that went to the South China Seas, and to think that that is threatened in any way is unbelievable, it's an unimaginable shock."
Mr Doughty described the ship as the epitome of speed under sail.Mr Doughty described the ship as the epitome of speed under sail.
The Cutty Sark left London on her maiden voyage on 16 February 1870, sailing around Cape Hope to Shanghai in three-and-a-half months. The Cutty Sark left London on her maiden voyage on 16 February 1870, sailing around Cape Hope to Shanghai in three and a half months.
She made eight journeys to China as part of the tea trade until steam ships replaced sail on the high seas.She made eight journeys to China as part of the tea trade until steam ships replaced sail on the high seas.
The ship was later used for training naval cadets during WWII, and in 1951 was moored in London for the Festival of Britain. Shortly afterwards, she was acquired by the Cutty Sark Society.The ship was later used for training naval cadets during WWII, and in 1951 was moored in London for the Festival of Britain. Shortly afterwards, she was acquired by the Cutty Sark Society.
The Cutty Sark is the world's oldest surviving tea clipperThe Cutty Sark is the world's oldest surviving tea clipper
The ship was undergoing a £25m renovation and was closed to visitors.The ship was undergoing a £25m renovation and was closed to visitors.
The conservation work was being carried out because sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.The conservation work was being carried out because sea salt had accelerated the corrosion of her iron framework.
The fire at the Cutty Sark may mean only one clipper from the same period is left intact.The fire at the Cutty Sark may mean only one clipper from the same period is left intact.
The City of Adelaide, built in 1864 to carry passengers and currently at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Ayrshire, also combines a cast iron frame with a wooden hull.The City of Adelaide, built in 1864 to carry passengers and currently at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Ayrshire, also combines a cast iron frame with a wooden hull.
Dr Eric Kentley, curatorial consultant to the Cutty Sark Trust, said of the ship: "It can be saved. It's certainly not completely devastated.Dr Eric Kentley, curatorial consultant to the Cutty Sark Trust, said of the ship: "It can be saved. It's certainly not completely devastated.
"We will put her back together - but it's going to take much much longer and a lot more money than we originally thought.""We will put her back together - but it's going to take much much longer and a lot more money than we originally thought."