Ship which sank in Maryport Harbour broken by contractors on coast

The Jean Paul, a wooden fishing vessel, was destroyed on the beach by Maryport Harbour after it sank last month.

It was witnessed by Edgar Woodall-Wright, whose father had been renovating the boat for seven years, but who died in February 2023 with the boat moored in the harbour, it sinking a year after 'on the anniversary of my father's death', he said.

Mr Woodhall-Wright, who lives and works as a carpenter in Devon, decided that destruction was the least worst solution to the sunken boat, but has taken some of the timbers back to Devon to be re-used in memory of his father’s dream.

The late Simon Woodall bought the boat seven years ago and had dreams of it becoming a home after refurbishments.

His son said that he died last winter, and was thus 'left with this, trying to figure out whether we can try and continue this dream for him, or whether it's time to call it quits'.

Jean Paul being broken on Maryport's coast on Monday, March 4 (Image: maryporthistory.uk)

The boat was removed and destroyed by Maryport Groundworks, which often deals with shipwrecks, as its co-owner Colin Glaister commented that ships being abandoned in Maryport Harbour is a common site for reasons unclear.

While Maryport used to have a rich shipbuilding history, it appears that the town is now in the business of shipbreaking

Photos taken by Peter Nicholson, who runs the history and photography website maryporthistory.uk, showed the process and son Edgar with the part of the boat containing its name which was removed with care to preserve its image.