The internet allows anyone to others, wherever they are in this world, as long as they are connected. This allows people to communicate and also transact.
Among the many places people are buying and selling things, eBay is one of the most popular.
And people can sell anything there.
In past, the e-commerce platform had a 405-foot megayacht on sale. It was priced at $168 million, sold to a Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, with the transaction completed with Florida Fort Lauderdale’s 4Yacht brokerage firm. There was also a person who sold four World War I battleships, three of which were Germany's most powerful vessels ever built.
This time, a family in the UK bought a 1943-made vessel.
The 72-foot vessel isn't very big, but it was UK's Royal Navy harbor defense battleship, a vessel that saw World War II, and survived.
It began when Simon Robins was scrolling through listings on eBay, looking for broken-down boats.
Robins and his wife Gemma, spent much of their time rescuing and renovating broken ships and vessels, and looking for a next candidate on the internet was nothing new for them.
But when they saw a World War II battleship, the first thing that came to their mind was that, they thought their passion was a bit too far. But when they realized the the vessel was stationed not far from where their home in Wrexham, Wales, the couple went to go and see it.
And the ship was a love at first sight.
Robins was so excited that it didn't take long before he bought the vessel for £6,500.
Acquired, the vessel known as the ML1392, was saved from being scrapped.
"I didn't really want a ship," Gemma said. "But when I researched her [the ship's] history, I realized that she's a really significant boat and there's not many of them left in the world."
"It was just so heartbreaking to see her so neglected and abandoned. It pulled on my heartstrings."
The UK made nearly 500 Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) vessels, most of which were constructed around the 1940s.
The vessels were originally intended for the defense of estuarial and local waters, but as it proved to be seaworthy and versatile, the vessels were then used in operations as the World War II progressed. Some HDML vessels went as far as the West Africa escorting convoys, and had been carrying some covert activities in the Mediterranean, as well as undertaking anti-submarine patrols near Iceland.
And this particular vessel, was built by Berthon Boats, Lymington, and was completed on 20 December 1943.
It was part of the 149th ML Flotilla, and in 1944, it served as a navigation leader in Operation Neptune, the pivotal seaborne invasion of northern France known as D-Day.
The vessel was also part of a fleet that captured a German submarine in March 1945.
It was later repurposed as a fast dispatch boat after the World War II, before being transferred to the UK's customs agency.
Around the year 1979, the ML1392 was retrofitted with newer parts, renamed, and transformed into a charter vessel.
The 59-tonnes vessel was even converted into a luxury yacht, before it was decommissioned in 2013.
Only a few HDML vessels still float at this time.
Gemma and Simon run a business building camper vans.
Acquiring the vessel, they know that fixing the World War II vessel could cost them a lot of money and time. They also know the consequences of having such an old vessel, that too many things can go wrong.
However, they took the challenge, and try to restore it, even if it would take them a decade or more to complete.
"If it was a World War II plane, she would have been in a museum by now," said Simon. "I feel historic boats do not get the care, attention and publicity they deserve, with a bit of love and hard work she will hopefully live a very long life."
"When we bought it, we wanted to save it," says Gemma. "To preserve a piece of history. "We haven't really thought about the long term. But Simon wants to retire and go and sail the Mediterranean."
The couple work on this project with their rchildren, Emilia and Mason, as well as with Simon's parents.
They have also set up a YouTube channel called 'Ship Happens', where they share their work progress.
"With all the history behind Sarinda, to be able to take part in the D-Day anniversary crossing to Normandy would be a great mark of respect to all that served on her," adds Simon.
"We've still got commitments and bills to pay. So the additional support we're getting from people is really helping the time frame."
“I never ever wanted a boat that big in my life but it sort of pulled on my heartstrings."
