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[Captain Blackmoor]

The Dutch replica VOC ship Prins Willem in Den Helder is destroyed! It is totally burned, except the steel skeleton.

This news is even more horrible for the good Captain Blue Hair, he is very busy making a minifig scale model of the ship here.


The once so mighty broadside.


The leftovers of the very nicely decorated stern.


The headrails hidden in smoke.


The steel skeleton is the only thing left...




YouTube Video

[Admiral M]

Oh no! What a tragedy! How could a big ship like that in the middle of a big square catch fire without someone noticing? I'm sorry to hear this...

This post has been edited by Admiral M: 30 July 2009 - 01:06 PM

[Matn]

That's horrible. Lucky no one is harmed. It happend around midnight, probably an electric breakdown in the little kitchen were some machinery stood. Let's hope they make a new one.

[Captain Blue Hair]

I just read it in the paper, i think my hart skipped and mist a beat...or two.
Very sad news this is, truly heartbreaking.

The past few years a lot of ''old'' ships have suffered from fires, first the Cutty Sark, next the Buildings and sails of the Batavia and now this.... It is almost suspecious.

[Captain Zuloo]

Oh no. This is terrible news. There aren't that many tall ships left - even replicas. It's a real shame when something like this happens. I'm really sorry to see this ship go, maybe it will motivate Captain Blue Hair to build his ship not only in love, but in memory - of two ships. =(

[Mister Phes]

Captain Blue Hair, on Jul 30 2009, 10:51 PM, said:

The past few years a lot of ''old'' ships have suffered from fires, first the Cutty Sark, next the Buildings and sails of the Batavia and now this.... It is almost suspecious.

You think it could be arson?

[Captain Zuloo]

Mister Phes, on Jul 30 2009, 11:12 PM, said:

You think it could be arson?

I sincerely hope not. If it is, I'd like a piece of whoever is responsible. However, big pieces of wood are flamable.

I have posted this tragic loss on the Classic-Pirates.com frontpage.

[Rick]

Admiral M, on Jul 30 2009, 02:45 PM, said:

Oh no! What a tragedy! How could a big ship like that in the middle of a big square catch fire without someone noticing? I'm sorry to hear this...

According to media the fire was spotted relatively quickly and the fire brigade was fast to respond, but I guess would just tends to burn really fast.

There is no indication of arson so far.

[Captain Blackmoor]

I was planning to visit this ship this year!
They aren't sure yet if they are going to build it again due financial problems with the insurance. It also costs a lot of time.
Lucky enough the "Zeven Provinciën" is still unharmed, but was close when the Batavia sails and buildings were destroyed like Captain Blue Hair said. And the "Delft" is under construction too. Now hope there won't be more disasters like this in the future.
The USS Constitution had a small kitchen fire, it was extinguished quickly so there wasn't serious damage.
That could end badly too.


The fire brigade of Den Helder was there quickly, but they couldn't do much since the fire was still inside the ship, it was too dangerous to enter. Some men had to run for their lifes to avoid falling masts. They decided starting to extinguish when the flames became visible. But it was too late already, the decks collapsed and only the steel carcass was left.

This post has been edited by Cap'n Blackmoor: 30 July 2009 - 01:34 PM

[Joey Lock]

Cap'n Blackmoor, on Jul 30 2009, 02:31 PM, said:

I was planning to visit this ship this year!
They aren't sure yet if they are going to build it again due financial problems with the insurance. It also costs a lot of time.
Lucky enough the "Zeven Provinciën" is still unharmed, but was close when the Batavia sails and buildings were destroyed like Captain Blue Hair said. And the "Delft" is under construction too. Now hope there won't be more disasters like this in the future.
The USS Constitution had a small kitchen fire, it was extinguished quickly so there wasn't serious damage.
That could end badly too.


The fire brigade of Den Helder was there quickly, but they couldn't do much since the fire was still inside the ship, it was too dangerous to enter. Some men had to run for their lifes to avoid falling masts. They decided starting to extinguish when the flames became visible. But it was too late already, the decks collapsed and only the steel carcass was left.

I would hate to see the HMS Victory be destroyed! Thats the only Trafalgar ship still in service!

This makes old greenhairs ship even more meaningful. Mabye once its complete they can put it on display in a Dutch Lego Headquarters or something to commemerate the ship? Just a Idea.

[Richie]

CGH, maybe you can build the ship scale 1:1, to replace the replica?

I saw it at the news this morning. Very sad to see it on fire, and the masts falling. When I heard it was the Prins Willem, I tought about CGH.

But when was the Batavia fire? I've visited it some months ago.

[Captain Blackmoor]

Richie, on Jul 30 2009, 01:58 PM, said:

CGH, maybe you can build the ship scale 1:1, to replace the replica?

Richie, on Jul 30 2009, 01:58 PM, said:

But when was the Batavia fire? I've visited it some months ago.

Lucky enough the ship self wasn't damaged, the sails were stored in a warehouse, along with a lot of wooden sculptures of the Zeven Provinciën, the building went down to ash.
I don't even want to think what would happen when the Batavia cought fire, that ship has no steel skeleton so it would burn to the keel and sink.

[Sir Wellington]

Oh my lord, what a tragedy. It was a true beauty.

[Mister Phes]

Captain Zuloo, on Jul 30 2009, 11:21 PM, said:

I have posted this tragic loss on the Classic-Pirates.com frontpage.

And now for a minute of silence...

[Guss]

that's sad , but it allowed a photograph to makes some beautiful shot of it burning! but that's very sad, another big ship dead :/ RIP