She was withdrawn from service in 1992 upon the cessation of the regular fleet of coastwise shipping importing phosphate rock cargoes into Whitehaven Harbour.

Her triple expansion steam reciprocating engine and water-tube boiler were admirably mothballed by her crew and the harbour workforce in the summer of 1992 whilst the Commissioners sought alternative trades for Whitehaven Harbour. But alas! Little commercial trade materialised. After three centuries of coal exporting and the past century’s trade in phosphates, chemicals, grain, timber, cement et al, there was no foreseen future for Whitehaven as a commercial harbour nor a need to maintain approach channel and harbour depths as in former years.

Disposal of s.s. "Clearway" was decided in 1997. The Harbour Master made extensive enquires locally and nationally with a view to preservation societies retaining s.s. "Clearway" as a museum piece. The grand old lady had become unique as a unit of maritime history now of a past era.

Regrettably no-one came forward with the funding to renovate and maintain her although there were several serious approaches.

The machinery element of s.s. "Clearway" was very well preserved, however the ravages of seventy years wear and tear upon the hull and decks had eroded the steelwork paper thin in parts and so the ultimate ignominy for s.s. "Clearway" was the knackers yard.

One evening in August 1998 with a nostalgic crowd of towns people, former crew and harbourside dwellers watching with subdued emotion, s.s. "Clearway" was towed silently and majestically from her berth in Queens Dock, through the harbour she had served so well and efficiently, out through the new Sealock and onwards down the Cumbrian coast to Millom for eventual dismemberment.

The Whitehaven Heritage Action Group whose purpose is "… working to improve the Town Centre and Harbour" elected to devise a form of memorial to s.s. "Clearway". The outcome of which was the proposed construction of a one-forty-eight scale model of the vessel from remaining plans held in the Harbour Office.

The Silloth model maker Malcolm Wilson was contacted and duly agreed to undertake the commission of building a scale model of s.s. "Clearway".

Malcolms craftsmanship is superb, examples of his work are on display nation-wide and the intricacies of his model of the slave trade brig "King George" – on display at the Beacon Heritage Centre – are proof of his skill. However, quality and scaled reproduction do not come cheap, the building of the model of s.s "Clearway" will be £4500.

To that end the Heritage Group are endeavouring to raise that sum: to date £1800 has been either gathered or pledged since the beginning of year 2000. Although other amounts are in the offing and fund-raising events are being organised any contribution will be gratefully accepted towards the still distant goal of the capital sum. Once that is achieved the contract with Malcolm Wilson can be formalised.

When completed the model is expected to go on display at the Beacon Heritage Centre at Whitehaven and possibly will be loaned for public display at maritime and other events as interest demands.

The Whitehaven Heritage Action Group are desirous of raising funds from the general public and maritime organisations towards the modelling costs of this dredger and would gratefully accept donations howsoever large or small. Acknowledgement will be made to all subscribers.

Donations may be made to: -
Whitehaven Heritage Action Group (Clearway Fund)
c/o Harbour Master, Harbour Office
1 Duke Street, Whitehaven, CA28 7HW

As a continuation to this resume of the life of s.s. "Clearway", a Norwegian preservation society currently renovating the 1908 built fjord steamer s.s. Oster", have obtained the engine and boiler with other ancillary equipment from s.s. "Clearway" installed them as the propulsion unit of the s.s. "Oster" and having passed all machinery and boiler surveys with flying colours the s.s. "Oster" has this summer successfully undergone her sea trials at Bergen. Surely a commendable testament to the loving care and maintenance given by those previous serving engineers and men responsible for the operation of the engines which beat as the heart of s.s. "Clearway" for almost three quarters of a century!