OFFICIALS are launching a last-ditch appeal to save an historic St. George's landmark from being destroyed.

For unless $1 million can be found to renovate the replica model of the 16th-century sailing ship Deliverance, the structure will have to be pulled down. Officials claim that after months of neglect, the attraction has become a hazard.

The model, built 40 years ago, is a replica of the vessel which sailed from Bermuda to the New World in 1610, a year after Bermuda was first inhabited.

The current owner, Nick Duffy, ran the ship as a tourist attraction, before moving to France a number of years ago. And although he is willing to hand over the vessel free of charge, the new owner will have to spend around $1 million in order to get Deliverance ship-shape.

They will also have to pay an annual fee to the Corporation of St. George's in order to lease the site on which the attraction is moored.

Mr. Duffy could not be contacted by the Mid-Ocean News this week, but St. George's Mayor Mariea Caisey confirmed that time was running out and ship could soon be on the rocks.

Last year the Corporation agreed to act as agent for Mr. Duffy in a bid to get the vessel sold. The St. George's Foundation has also sought out potential buyers. But despite appealing to the business community, Government, and philanthropic organisations, there have been no takers. St. George's Foundation chairman Henry Hayward told the Mid-Ocean News: "There's been discussions with various parties over the last three or four months in an attempt to get some charity or business to take it over.

"But the vessel is in such poor condition that it needs a considerable amount of money to bring it back to a good condition.

"It will also need an annual grant to maintain it even once it has been restored. It seems that as soon as people learn about the cost, they have second thoughts.

"Between ourselves, Mr. Duffy, and the Corporation of St. George's, we've been trying to get someone interested in taking it on, but if no one comes up with something very, very soon, it will have to be demolished."

Ms Caisey added: "It's very important that it gets repaired because right now it's a hazard ¿ it's in disarray and is a liability. It would be nice if we could get someone interested in it but, contrary to what people think, it doesn't belong to the Corporation and there is only so much we can do. It's a major part of the town and no one wants to see it just sitting there rotting."

This week the Mid-Ocean News e-mailed Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler to ask if he was aware of the situation and, if so, was Government willing to step in and save the monument to Bermuda's first inhabitants. No response to our questions was received by press time last night.