CALLS are being made to safeguard the future of a historic Southampton tug at the centre of sinking fears.

The tug tender Calshot, currently sited at ABP's berth 42, is taking in water and may sink within months unless emergency work is carried out.

As revealed in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, city council chiefs, who own the vessel, are considering "all options", including selling it off or even scrapping it.

But they are being urged to do all they can to ensure repairs are carried out so it can form part of the centrepiece for the city's planned Heritage Centre.

There are plans to apply for a lottery grant to help with the restoration.

The vessel was first launched from the Vosper Thornycroft site in Woolston in 1929 and was the largest tug tender built for Red Funnel.

She has manoeuvred the world's greatest ocean liners, including Queen Mary, and often carried world-famous celebrities, film stars and politicians.

The Tug Tender Calshot Trust, set up in 1997, has been working on restoring the tug to her 1930s profile.

Chairman Terry Yarwood said: "Obviously we are very hopeful something can be done.

"Some of the options that are being looked at include disposing of the tug or scrapping it, which would be disastrous.

"She's the only ship that should be at the Heritage Centre. I'm not saying other ships should be excluded, but she has every right to be there and should be on display."

Alan Jones, chairman of Southampton's Heritage Federation, said: "We are concerned and believe there should be a solution because it's always been considered that the Calshot would be the centrepiece for the Heritage Centre as it reflects a great part of Southampton's history.

"It's no good just having interactive things or graphics. There needs to be something that people can see and feel."

Councillor Peter Wakeford, Cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said the city council was looking at every option possible to ensure the tug did not sink.