WAVERLEY Steam Navigation (WSN) and Waverley Excursions (WEL) have announced that the popular paddle steamer M.V. Balmoral will not be operating a continuous series of cruises in 2013.

Hampered by extreme weather conditions, the Chairmen of the Waverely companies said that cancelled or disrupted sailings of the Balmoral had - combined with other factors - led to “very significant” losses in the last two years.

The Waverley’s timetable was said to be less susceptible to such disruptions, as she spends the main season in the relatively sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde, but the directors said that operating the Balmoral in the traditional manner next year would be “too great a risk”.

They said it had been a “very difficult decision” but that this represented the best way, in the current circumstances, to safeguard Waverley's continued operation and the long-term future of Balmoral, both of which regularly sail from Penarth Pier.

Nick James, Chairman of Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Limited, and Graeme Hogg, Chairman Waverley Excursions Ltd, said in an open letter: “Clearly, we are unable to predict the weather for 2013, but none of the forecasters is predicting a significant improvement over recent years.

“After taking a wide range of considerations into account, we have decided, reluctantly, that it would be too great a risk to operate Balmoral in the traditional manner next year and that doing so would increase the threat to the future of both ships.

“We are not in a position to take such a risk and so we will not be operating Balmoral on a programme of cruises in 2013.

“At the moment Balmoral is being looked after on a care and maintenance basis by our dedicated volunteers in Bristol. We are looking at several alternative ways of utilising the ship in 2013 and, over the coming months, we will seek to identify a robust operating programme to offer the prospect of returning her to service in 2014 and beyond.

“Waverley will operate as extensive a programme as is practicable in 2013, visiting all the areas she has served for so many years, and we are actively investigating the possibility of the ship returning to two areas where she has not been seen for a number of years.

“We are mindful of the tremendous support shown by so many all around the UK, and wish to record our thanks to them as we plan for 2013 and beyond.”

Myra Allen, Chairman of Paddle Steamer Preservation Society said in a letter to members, she is hopeful some restricted form of operation will still be possible.

But she also said that while the Balmoral is not sailing, society funds cannot be used to support the historic ship which has sailed on a continuous summer programme since 1986.

She said: “The society is bound by charity law to use its funds in pursuit of its objects, the principal one being ‘for the public benefit to acquire, preserve and exhibit in sailing condition or otherwise one or more examples of paddle steamers or paddle propelled vessels’.

“I received advice from the charity commission that this could include supporting the Balmoral while she was being operated ‘in support of paddle steamers’.

“As this is no longer the case, unfortunately we can no longer use society funds - other than those given specifically for her - to help keep the Balmoral sailing. “The proceeds from the 2012 Grand Draw attributable to her had already been paid over to WSN, so we now hold less than £1,500 for the Balmoral.

“We will use this sum in the best way we can to prolong the ship’s future.

“I can assure you that the Waverley companies are not planning to dispose of the Balmoral and are examining all options to return her to service.”