VINTAGE passenger ship the MV Balmoral – much loved by Foresters for the fun of excursions on her from Lydney, is the subject of a major charity appeal – which needs to raise £350,000 to ensure the ship's survival.

Notable for not appearing last year, a statement from a new charity that has been set up to help support the future of the ship, explains: "Many readers who have enjoyed sailing down the Bristol Channel from Lydney, Clevedon or Penarth on board the much-loved passenger vessel 'Balmoral' will have noticed her absence last summer and may well have been wondering what has happened to her.

"The fact is that, following a run of summers when dreadful weather and other circumstances led to a fall in passenger figures, there was not enough money available to put her into service for the 2013 season, and since then she has remained laid up outside the M Shed museum in Bristol City Docks.

"She has not, however, been forgotten, and a new charity – the MV Balmoral Fund has been formed to ensure that the vessel returns to coastal cruising around the UK's coastline. A loyal band of volunteers have been working on board throughout the winter to ensure she is well maintained, and a vigorous fund raising appeal to raise an initial £350,000 has started well. The fund currently stands at a little over £110,000, allowing the ship to make her long awaited move to dry dock, and giving considerably improved hope for her long term future."

The ship is planned to be moved this week to dry dock at Sharpness, where she will be examined, and will undergo her equivalent of an MOT test. Early risers on Wednesday morning may have seen her passing under the old Severn Bridge around 6.30am.

Simply moving the ship to the dry dock at Sharpness will cost around £90,000, but the charity hope that while she is there, further work can be carried out to meet an August deadline for her re-certification as a sea-safe passenger vessel.

The statement from the organisation, however, is hopeful: "Even after the ship is re-certificated and ready for sea there will still be huge challenges to overcome – hence the main target appeal of £350,000 – but there is a clear marketing plan and an innovative sailing programme is being devised for 2015."

They are also applying for grants, and other fund-raising activities are being explored.

Details of the ship can be found at http://www.heritagesteamers.co.uk/balmoral/">www.heritagesteamers.co.uk/balmoral/, while news and information on the appeal can be found at http://www.mvbalmoral.org.uk">www.mvbalmoral.org.uk.