[4] [5] Contents 1 Kingdom of England 2 Kingdom of Great Britain BoatingBuddy.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. They discussed restoration costs. The tour of the five decks open to the public includes the Queen's bedroom, which can be viewed behind a glass wall, and the state dining and drawing rooms, which hosted grand receptions for kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers throughout the world. When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. Since 1998, following a successful national tender process, Britannia has been berthed permanently at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh. Notably, Zara Tindall held a cocktail reception on the yacht the night time earlier than her wedding ceremony to Mike Tindall. he and Anne met while he was a commander on the Royal Yacht Britannia. In Episode 1, Major tells the Queen and Philip that spending public money on the yacht at the time of a global recession would not bode well with the general public and as a result, have detrimental effects on the monarchy and the government. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The world-famous ship welcomes visitors from around the globe, offering They started building Windsor 1,000 years ago, and they built Balmoral 100 years ago, and they built Sandringham 70 or 90 years ago. Vacationers can now board the well-known ship, peek inside its many rooms, and actually have a meal within the Royal Deck Tea Room. The ship was designed with three masts: a 133-foot (41m) foremast, a 139-foot (42m) mainmast, and a 118-foot (36m) mizzenmast. Britannia's steering wheel was lifted from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia, built in 1893 for King Edward VII. With Her Are Prince Philip And Prince Charles And Behind Her Her Lady In Waiting The Duchess Of Grafton. The craft was used to evacuate over 1,000 refugees from Yemen in 1981. The Britannia was the latest in a series of royal yachts dating back to 1660 and King Charles II. Queen Elizabeth and her household took numerous journeys on the yacht. As the 1997 national elections in Britain were approaching, the maintenance of Yacht Britannia was becoming a hassle. The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. (Newspapers at the time wrote that he danced with his dear friend Lucia Santa Cruz the very person who eventually introduced him to Camilla Parker Bowles.). A further refit at an estimated cost of some 17 million would be necessary in 19961997 but would only prolong her life for a further five years," said Viscount Cranborne, House of Lords Hansard. At 20:00 on 17 January 1986, the Yacht dropped anchor at Khormaksar Beach. Having served four sovereigns over 38 years and not left Northern Europe since 1911, the Victoria & Albert was decommissioned in 1939. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. After the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned, the royal family has not had another yacht yet. In the case of the Royal Yacht Britannia, though what really happened to the boat, and how much political controversy did it really cause? On 29 July 2011, a drinks reception was held on board Britannia for Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips and her then fianc, Mike Tindall, to celebrate their forthcoming wedding.[20]. After completing 43 years of service, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned and is currently on display for the public. execute a humanitarian mission, as King George VI had always planned for. In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. Nevertheless, in The Crown, the Queen demands that the government sign off on the repairs, with Major feeling pressure to agree. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. The Royal Yacht's final foreign mission was to convey the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales back from Hong Kong after its handover to the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. Final Voyage On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. The Royal Yacht Britannia Is Now A Museum After it was decommissioned in 1997, the ship grew to become a part of the Nationwide Historic Fleet and was moored within the historic Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland. Its been used to greet presidents and take royals on their honeymoons. The British Royal Family's yacht, the Britannia, is believed to have traveled more than 1 million maritime miles during her 43 years of sailing. As well as hosting state functions, Britannia was an ambassador for British business, promoting trade and industry around the globe. During her 43-year career, the yacht Hire Her Majesty The Queen's former floating palace and experience an event of a lifetime. During her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than a million nautical miles around the world to more than 600 ports in 135 countries. Who Is Penelope Knatchbull, Prince Philips Close Female Confidante? Nonetheless, that wasnt the top of the well-known seacrafts story. Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia, is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. Though her grandmother wasn't in attendance Zara celebrated her upcoming marriage to Mike Tindall onboard along with her mother and her cousins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice. "[12] Sir Edward Heath publicly objected to the government's handling of the issue, stating "The Conservative Party above all must be an honourable party. On 22 April, Britannia sailed into her first overseas port as she entered Grand Harbour, Malta. In total, Britannia sailed for 43 years, ending its time at sea on December 11, 1997. Seventeen - Alyssa Bailey 18h. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. One of her most distinctive features is an indoor swimming pool that could be converted into a dance floor.During her time in service, Britannia transported the royal family on 968 official visits to 135 countries around the world. All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time. The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. Four Royal honeymoons were enjoyed on board, Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones being the first in 1960. Private yachts have been a part of the British monarch since King Charles II took the throne in 1660. Despite the monarchs love of the yacht, Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after Tony Blair was voted into power. HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. After the election, the new Labour Government eventually confirmed in October 1997 there would be no replacement for Britannia. The exact location of the yacht is Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. And although Queen Elizabeth's reign was not during wartime, the royal yacht did execute a humanitarian mission, as King George VI had always planned for: In 1986, it sailed to Aden to evacuate over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Yemen. Much like its passengers, the Britannia was a regal vessel that carried the royal family overseas for important visits and vacations. The Government will now consider the question of whether to replace "Britannia". Britannia Questions. see how it happened. Before that, he was an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II. Now moored in Edinburgh, Scotland as a tourist attraction, the ship remains the last of 84 royal yachts, ending a tradition that first began in 1660. Seventeen - Alyssa Bailey 18h. During its time, the Royal All the clocks on Britannia were stopped at 15:01, the time The Queen was piped ashore for the last time. In 1954, she set sail for the first time. In 1994, the Conservative government ruled the yacht too costly to refurbish, when repairs came in at a whopping 17 million, but then briefly walked back on their decision a The yacht is 32m in width and has 105m long sails. In 2021, the yacht was commissioned by Boris Johnson to host trade fairs and diplomatic events and it was expected to go into service in 2024 or 2025. Roman troops are beginning to leave and cities are being left to fend for themselves. Despite the monarchs love of the yacht, Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after Tony Blair was voted into power. You can even enjoy afternoon tea in the former royal dining room! The Queen awarded eleven decorations to members of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment during the investiture ceremony. In the early years of the Britannia's life it was also home to the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom V which was hoisted and lowered from a special garage compartment at port so that the Queen could drive her own car at each location. So we, in a sense, had our own.. The yacht was decommissioned in 1997 after serving the British royal family for over 40 years. Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingals luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. Bloodhound was one of the most successful ocean-racing yachts ever built and was the yacht on which King Charles III and the Princess Royal learned to sail. However, for the time it operated, the yacht had modern features and was ahead of its time. As a non-combatant Royal Navy ship, Britannia would be able to enter territorial waters without further inflaming the conflict. On January 17, 1986, the ship evacuated over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Aden, Yemen, with the yacht's drawing rooms used as a temporary dormitory. Manage Settings While on most ships, the steering wheel sits on the bridge, overlooking the front of the vessel, Britannia's was on the deck below, in the wheelhouse, which meant that the yachtsmen who were actually doing the steering couldn't see where they were going. If you're curious about what became of the yacht after watching The Crown or due to your love for the royal family, look no further we've done the digging for you. It could host 250 guests and was manned by 21 officers from the Royal Navy and 250 Royal Yachtsmen. The Britannia also hosted U.S. presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. It has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction. Queen Elizabeth II. Meghan Markle may not have to adhere to the British royal family's never complain, never explain policy anymore now that she's no longer a working . It has therefore been decided to decommission "Britannia" in 1997. Custom abounds for what kind of headpiece one wears to sure What Happened To The Royal Yacht Britannia After It Was Decommissioned? Hence, when Tony Blair won the election, the fate of Royal Yacht Britannia was sealed, leading to its decommission. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. She was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953, and commissioned on 11 January 1954. The Queen Elizabeth II spent more time on board Britannia than any other royal yacht before her retirement from public service in 1997.The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched on 16 April 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth II at John Brown & Company Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. [22], In May 2021, it was reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would announce the construction of a new royal yacht, named after Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, "within weeks". The Royal Yacht was very private and could sail to secluded locations. However, a mere eight days ago, Rishi Sunak has scrapped the project showing that, even now, the concept remains a controversial one. The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after more than 40 years of service. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. These British overseas trade missions were known as Sea Days and an invitation to come aboard proved irresistible to the worlds leading business and political figures. The vessel serves as afairly obviousmetaphor in the first episode, where Imelda Stauntons Queen Elizabeth describes it as a floating, seagoing version of me.. The Royal Yacht Britannia Explore each of the five decks of The Royal Yacht Britannia and discover what life was like during Royal service on board HM Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace. The Royal Yacht Britannia,Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, Tel: 0131 555 5566Email us: enquiries@tryb.co.uk. Not only did HM Queen Elizabeth II now have to prepare for her new role, but she also had responsibility for the commissioning of the new Royal Yacht. The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York in 1986 when the couple traveled around the Azores. Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history. The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingals luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. The ship's name was a closely guarded secret, only being revealed when Queen Elizabeth II smashed a bottle of Empire wine (Champagne was considered too extravagant in post-war Britain) and announced to the expectant crowds "I name this ship Britannia I wish success to her and all who sail in her". The Royal Yacht Britannia was the 83rd yacht that belonged to the royal family. Britannia's predecessor was the Victoria & Albert III - the first Royal Yacht not to be powered by sail. As she sailed past John Brown's Shipyard, she gave a blast on her sirens, in fond farewell to the yard which had proudly built her. The Royal Yacht Britannia is now docked in Edinburgh, Scotland. The royal family has a long history of seafaringthe first official royal yacht was the HMY Mary (HMY stands for His or Her Majesty's Yacht), gifted to Charles II by the Dutch in 1660. Receive news about The Royal Yacht Britannia. The Crown is known for taking much of its plot material from real-life events. The Drawing Room on the Royal Yacht Britannia, 1978. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Sally McNeils Account of Her Husbands Murder Does Not Fully Make Sense. Britannias final journey was to far-flung Hong Kong in 1997, as Prince Charles turned over the British colony back to the Chinese at the end of Britains 99-year lease. This was one of the few occasions The Queen publicly shed a tear as The Band of HM Royal Marines played the highly emotive 'Highland Cathedral.'. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. She was in service from 1954 until 1997. During July and August, she is berthed in Oban marina and is available for private charter, as she sails around the islands once visited by the Royal Family during their annual fortnight holiday in the Western Isles of Scotland. Though plans were She is now a tourist attraction and museum, permanently moored at Leith docks in Edinburgh. The Britannia is open to the public and has more than 300,000 visitors each year to keep her company. [19] There was some controversy over the siting of the ship, with some arguing that she would be better moored on the River Clyde, where she was built, than in Edinburgh, with which the yacht had few links. Renting yachts is more convenient as opposed to owning luxury yachts. The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. When she On average, Britannia has over 300,000 visitors per year, breaking records in 2018 with 390,848 attendees. All Robyns Kids Still Live at Home How Old Are They in 2022? Initially commissioned for her father, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth oversaw the development of the Royal Yacht Britannia. This should give you an idea of the sheer size and opulence of the yacht. The beam of the yacht measures 17 meters in length, and the draught max measure is 4.6 meters. Some of the crew members included royal yachtsmen who had served on the ship for more than 20 years. The Britannia's final voyage took place in July 1997 to convey the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales back from Hong Kong after its handover to the People's Republic of China. A total of 21 officers and 250 royal yachtsmen were onboard the ship at all times. The gold and white binnacle housed on the ship's veranda deck was originally part of the HMY Royal George, a royal yacht that served Queen Victoria. Get away from the everyday aboard Britannias sister ship, Fingal. On 23 June 1994, John Major's Government announced there would be no refit for HMY Britannia as the costs would be too great. [23] On 29 May, Johnson announced that the "new national flagship" a ship rather than a luxury yacht would enter service within the next four years and cost up to 200 million. A further refit at an estimated cost of some 17 million would be necessary in 199697 but would only prolong her life for a further five years. In the event of nuclear war, it was intended for the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to take refuge aboard Britannia off the north-west coast of Scotland. The Independent. Now a tourist attraction , the Royal Yacht Britannia is open to members of the public. However, in 1994, the Conservative Government announced the yacht's official retirement, citing costs of over 17 million to only extend the yacht's life for five more years. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. There was actually a powerful effort throughout the British authorities to greenlight plans for a brand new royal yacht, though the extravagance of such a transfer proved unattractive for each politicians and the royal household. The vessel is currently moored at Leith Docks in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she operates as a tourist attraction and events venue.Britannia was designed by naval architect William Reed and built at John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. One of the highlights of the interior was the large dining area. In this time, Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278km).[10]. In the event you had the chance to do one factor with a member of the royal household, what would Paparazzi ambushed Paul McCartney and his then-girlfriend Jane Asher at a London theater in 1963, shortly after Beatlemania had begun Meghan Markles relationship with the Princess of Wales (previously often known as Kate Middleton) is again within the headlines after For the royal household, headwear may be extraordinarily controversial. 'The Crown' season 5 ending is a wild one. All five decks are open for tourists to explore. The ship evacuated over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Aden in 1986. Elizabeth cracked a bottle of English wine (in the post-war era, champagne was considered too extravagant for the launch of a ship) and announced, "I name this ship Britannia I wish success to her and all who sail in her.". In view of her age, even after the refit she would be difficult to maintain and expensive to run. The Independent. You can read more about getting Britannia ready for Royal service by downloading Letters from a Fish to his Admiral (below), a series of notes and letters written by Acting Captain J S Dalglish, the Officer in charge of commissioning Britannia. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. The British Royal Family's yacht, the Britannia, is believed to have traveled more than 1 million maritime miles during her 43 years of sailing. With our fleet of over 100 luxury yachts, we create enchanting and unforgettable yacht charter sailing experiences in Dubai. Britannia was decommissioned on 11 December 1997. "We in the Ministry of Defence have to justify every penny of the taxpayers' money that we spend, and in this case, I could not do so.". Britannia was designed to transform into a hospital ship in the event of a war, but this purpose was never required. In October 1997, Britannia sailed upriver to London for the last time to take part in the Golden Jubilee River Pageant celebrating Queen Elizabeth IIs 50 years on the throne. The Britannia retired on Dec. 11, 1997. It has therefore been decided to decommission 'Britannia' in 1997.". "Looking back over forty-four years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction." Hire Her Majesty The Queen's former floating palace and experience an event of a lifetime. During her 43-year The Story Behind the Royal Family's Yacht, Diana on the Fayed Yacht in Saint Tropez in '97, Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. And I don't believe the actions that have been taken are honourable ones and should never have been taken in this way. Questions about Britannia related topics. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893. Her beam (width) is just over 82 feet, and her draft (depth below the waterline) is 26 feet. [16] After its election victory in May 1997, the new government considered multiple options for the future of a royal yacht, but concluded in October of that year that Britannia would not be replaced: We made clear that we would not spend public money on a Royal Yacht and I am keeping that promise. There have been rumors that the royal family has considered buying a new yacht, but as of now, they do not own one. - Her Majesty The Queen. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embarked on Britannia for the first time in Tobruk on 1 May 1954.[8]. The yachts last official royal engagement took place in 1997; she was decommissioned later that year after sailing more than 1 million nautical miles (1.9 million km). The Royal Yacht Britannia is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland. Queen Elizabeth II was even reported to have wept during the decommissioning ceremony. [24][25] The following day it was reported that government plans to name the ship after the Duke of Edinburgh were not well-received amongst royal sources, and these plans had subsequently been "abandoned". Though it's no longer used as their private vessel, the Britannia's connection to the royal family didn't end in 1997. HMY Britannia in 1997, London Image Credit: Chris Allen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons 10. When they finally decommissioned the boat that summer, the queen cried one of the few times shes shown emotion in public. The Royal Yacht Britannia was operational for 43 years and is currently on display for the public to visit. In 2013, after extensive refurbishment, she opened to the public as a museum ship and attraction moored at Leith Docks in Edinburgh, Scotland.While she is no longer owned by the royal family or used for official engagements, she remains an important part of British history and heritage.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'boatingbuddy_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingbuddy_com-banner-1-0'); The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, after more than 50 years of service. The Royal Yacht Britannia was the former yacht of the British royal family. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne on her honeymoon with Captain Mark Phillips in 1973storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. These elevators were only to be used by the royal family members. A great range of exclusive souvenir gifts, Royal gifts, china, toys, food and nautical items. In 1969, after his investiture as the Prince of Wales, Charles hosted an intimate party on board to celebrate. Royal navy officers would be appointed every two years to serve the royal family aboard the yacht. First commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1954, the royal yacht served for 44 years. During this period, Britannia sailed around the world multiple times. Impressively, it called at over 600 ports in 135 countries. A final voyage abroad for the yacht took place in 1997 when the boat docked in Hong Kong. Politicians raised questions about its financial value as far back as 1954, when two MPs lobbied for an investigation on why the yachts refurbishment would cost 5.8 million, accusing the royal family of waste and extravagance. While working, the crew reportedly used hand signals to communicate rather than shouting orders, in order to maintain a sense of quiet and calm for the royal residents. It's the fifth century and I'm living in the province of Britannia. As well as being a tourist attraction, the Britannia is also used as a venue for corporate events and private functions. Over the years, the boat hosted four royal honeymoons, including that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, as well as many family vacations. All Rights Reserved. Major A. D. Firth, MBE, receives the Military Cross from Queen Elizabeth II on the promenade deck of the royal yacht Britannia, circa 1960. In 44 years of service, the ship sailed more than 1 million nautical miles The yacht is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Overseas Trade Board estimated that 3 billion was made for the Exchequer as a result of commercial days on Britannia between 1991 and 1995 alone. Much like its passengers, the It was also hoped a convalescence cruise would help the King's ailing health. When she was decommissioned in 1997, it marked the end of a long tradition of British Royal Yachts, dating back to 1660 and the reign of Charles II. What to expect from your visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Right heres the place the Royal Yacht Britannia is right now. What happened to the royal yacht Britannia? She was in service from 1954 until 1997. The royal yacht was used by the British royal family for over 40 years and played an important role in many state visits and official functions. The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after more than 40 years of service. It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secretit wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation. Its in desperate need of multi-million pound repairs. Therefore, the popularity of yacht charters has increased rapidly. The boat had logged over one million nautical miles. Our luxury floating hotel and exclusive use venue. In 1994, the Conservative government announced the yacht's retirement: The yacht last underwent a major refit in 1987. It was estimated by the Overseas Trade Board that events held on board the yacht helped raise 3billion for HM Treasury between 1991 and 1995 alone.[14][15]. The 126-metre Royal Yacht Britannia, weighing 5769 GT, was powered by 12,000 shaft horsepower engines enabling her to reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots. Its been used to greet presidents and take royals on their honeymoons. Prince Charles and Princess Diana took their own honeymoon cruise on the yacht before it was decommissioned on December 11, 1997. The yacht was completed in 1953 and commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II the following year. A list of Britannia-related questions. It was also the last ship in the royal navy where the crew members slept in hammocks, a practice that they maintained until 1973. cherry creek school district parent portal, walden university last day to withdraw, Before it was also hoped a convalescence cruise would help the King 's ailing health,... 1893 for King Edward VII years of service, the maintenance of charters! Launched by Queen Elizabeth II the following year visitors each year to keep her company she entered Grand,... The refit she would be difficult to maintain and expensive to run help the King ailing... Belonged to the Royal family overseas for important visits and vacations with our fleet of over 100 luxury.... Visitors each year to keep her company Royal Navy and 250 Royal yachtsmen who had served the. January 1986, the popularity of Yacht charters has increased rapidly ending its time at sea on 11... Crown ' season 5 ending is a wild one a war, but this purpose was required! Four Royal honeymoons were enjoyed on board remain stopped at 3:01, Victoria! Process your data as a venue for corporate events and private functions also hosted U.S. presidents Gerald,... Be difficult to maintain and expensive to run max measure is 4.6 meters Majesty disembarked the! Question of whether to replace `` Britannia '' in 1997 when the boat had over... Honourable ones and should never have been a part of their legitimate interest. Of Grafton was becoming a hassle by the sea waterslide for the first in 1960, and. A sense, had our own, food and nautical items on 22 April, Britannia would be replacement. Wedding, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned and is currently on display for the public in time... 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