Can you help give dazzling Elektra a fresh lick of paint?

Friday 28 April 2023

The owners of the 1950s ex-US Army steel tug-boat in the English Harbour are hoping to complete its restoration before the end of the summer – and have asked for islanders' help in painting it.

Elektra was brought to Jersey in 1995 and painted with ‘dazzle’ camouflage by local artist Ian Rolls in 2015 to mark the centenary of the Great War.

Blake Ross and Tony Cooper, directors of Nova Environmental Services, took ownership of Elektra – currently moored in the English Harbour – in 2021 for £15,000.

Video: Elektra getting dazzled. (Little River Pictures/Vimeo)

Its new Milton Keynes-based owners, who operate a reclamation and restoration business, are hoping to restore the boat to full working order before taking it to the UK.

Mr Cooper said that engineers who usually work on the Thames Clippers vessels had been coming to Jersey every couple of months to help with the restoration.

"We have bought a massive generator off a super-yacht in Spain, but the propellor also needs to go back on, we need to install all of the ancillaries and add a new lick of paint – she should be ready to roll in the next three or four months," he added.

Mr Cooper said that, since purchasing Elektra, a further £30,000 had been spent fixing it with an estimated £50,000 still needed to complete the work.

"We are keeping the dazzle design and are looking for volunteers to help paint it," he added.

Pictured: Elektra is currently moored in the English Harbour.

Once finished, Mr Cooper said Elektra is likely to be taken to London where she could be used for salvage work, or even made available as a place for people to visit and stay on using the self-catering accommodation site Airbnb.

Those interested in helping to paint Elektra can contact Mr Cooper on 07498 805218.

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