Aircraft carrier for sale on auction site with no minimum bid....

Buyer must collect: Ark Royal posted for sale on auction website

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:34 AM on 29th March 2011

She is the Navy’s former flagship, a symbol of Britain’s proud maritime history.

But after sailing the world’s seas for a quarter of a century, the HMS Ark Royal is suffering an undignified end – being put up for sale on an eBay-style auction website and possibly becoming scrap metal.

Potential buyers with several million pounds can snap up the aircraft carrier from the Ministry of Defence website.

HMS Ark Royal: The Royal Navy's former flagship is going to be auctioned off on the internet

The 10,000-ton warship is being advertised on the edisposals.com site just two weeks after she was decommissioned.

The sale follows that of her sister ship HMS Invincible, which was towed away last week to a scrapyard in Turkey after being sold on the same internet site.

 

Although the Ark Royal could also be sold for scrap metal, other proposals include turning her into a commercial heliport in London or a fortified base for special forces troops providing security at next year’s Olympic Games.

Bidders have until 10am on June 13 to put their tenders forward for the ship. No minimum price is given but the MoD is hoping to raise at least £2million.

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New kind of battle: A bidding war for the ship will end in June

The vessel is currently berthed at the naval yard in Portsmouth, Hampshire. She was built by Swan Hunter on Tyneside and launched in 1981.

Ministers announced Ark Royal was being axed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review  last year.

An MoD spokesman said: ‘Difficult decisions had to be made during the SDSR due to the severe financial constraints facing the department.

‘HMS Ark Royal has a proud history in the naval fleet and was due to leave service in three years’ time. 

‘Bringing forward her decommissioning ensures we will have an enhanced carrier strike capability in the future.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370864/Buyer-collect-Ark-Royal-posted-sale-auction-website.html#ixzz1Hx5dmVQd