The first contract to be let in the £5.5 million project to rebuild the Maid of the Loch, Loch Lomond’s Paddle Steamer, was signed on 22nd February 2016. The contract has been awarded to OSD-IMT Ltd., of Dundee, and is for marine consultancy services. OSD will provide the necessary naval architecture, engineering, structure, and outfitting expertise to produce all the required calculations, drawings, and designs to ensure that the rebuild meets all regulatory requirements. This was a landmark event as it was almost exactly 20 years since the charity took ownership of the Maid.

The Maid of the Loch (above) is the last paddle steamer built in Britain, in 1953, and she sailed on the loch until 1981, carrying such notable people such as Queen Elizabeth II (on two occasions) and Queen Salote of Tonga. She lay neglected and deteriorating at Balloch until rescued by the charity in 1996. Since 2001 the Maid has been a 2 star visitor attraction in VisitScotland’s quality assurance scheme and open to the public every day in summer, drawing around 15,000 visitors each year. Last year the Maid of the Loch was awarded a Stage 1 pass by the Heritage Lottery Fund, worth £230,400, which allows this professional work to be carried out. HLF have promised a further £3.8 million if the charity can raise the balance of £1.7 million. A refurbished Maid of the Loch will embrace 21st century safety and comfort, with 20th century Scottish engineering, using 19th century technology.