An historic First World War ship is destined for the scrapyard unless she is thrown a £100,000 lifeline.

That’s the bleak warning from volunteers who have spent years trying to restore the Royal Navy vessel HMS President 1918 at Chatham Docks, described as a “national treasure”

Site owner, Gary Rosewell has indicated that he is no longer prepared to fund the berthing costs and is said to have booked a slot to get her dismantled.

He told KentOnline that he has been unable to track down the ship’s owner who owes him money to pay for her mooring.

Historian and marine enthusiast Danny Broom, who has spent the last five years of his spare tiime reparing the submarine hunter said it’s now a “race against time”.

Danny, a postman from Lordswood, has written to Medway’s three MPs, councillors and the owners of neighbouring Peel Ports in a desperate last-ditch bid for help,

The 39-year-old said: “Basically people are walking away from it and left us holding the baby.

“If we could find £100,000 it might give us something to bargain for and give us time to find somewhere else to go and pay for towing.”

The warship, which played a vital role in destroying enemy U-boats, is the last of three to survive the First World War.

Known as a “dazzle ship”, its striking livery of jagged lines camouflage was aimed at confusing the enemy when hundreds of shipping convoys sailed to and from Britain’s ports.

She arrived on the Medway in 2016 towed by several tugs from Upnor-based marine company GPS .

She is in the hands of National Historic Ships UK, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Vessells as part of the National Historic Fleet.

If we could find £100,000 it might give us something to bargain for...

Hannah Cunliffe, director of National Historic Ships UK, said: “HMS President is one of only 200 vessels on the National Historic Fleet, being of UK significance and thus meriting the highest priority for conservation.

“We were concerned and dismayed to hear she is at risk of being scrapped and have been in dialogue with the site owner where she is located to ensure that all options are being explored.

“We are also visiting the ship this week to photographically record and identify any historic fixtures and fittings it may be possible to save in the eventuality that she is disposed..

“Her details would then be added to the National Archive of Historic Vessels where her record will be stored in perpetuity.”

HMS President was built between 1916 and 1918 as a submarine hunter disguised to look like a merchant ship, while carrying concealed four-inch and 12-pounder naval guns.

U-boats would dive at the sight of a naval warship, but a U-boat captain, reluctant to use a torpedo on a smaller vessel would surface to sink it by gunfire.

As the submarine approached for the kill, the “mystery ship” as it was known would reveal hidden guns and counter-attack as the U-boat was at its most vulnerable.

From 1922 she was employed as a Royal Naval Reserve drill ship and was moored on the Thames at Blackfriars. She remained in Royal Navy service for a total of 70 years, from 1918 to1988.

During the Second World War, she was converted into a training ship.

In 1988 she was saved by a charity which supported start-up companies for young people, audio visual studios and a publishing company.

To save her from disposal, events were held on deck and in the backdrop of St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London, became a London landmark.

Over the following years, she was sold to private owners and an office service company which used it for conferences and functions.

She remained alongside Victoria Embankment until 2016 when she was moved to Chatham to make way for the new Thames Tideway Tunnel.

Ownership was transferred to the HMS President Preservation Trust which unsuccessfully applied for grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund

The charitable trust’s director Paul Williams: ”It is ridiculous and so frustrating. She is a national treasure.

“We have spent time securing a berth and have has backing from MPs, the ports authority and the city and we cannot budge.”