Prospects to save the Falls of Clyde at Honolulu Harbor appear to be sinking as another deal for a lift ship to transport it back to Scotland, originally anticipated to take place in early February, fell through.

David O’Neill, director of Scotland-­based Save Falls of Clyde International, said in an email this week that the group had to cancel the scheduled lift on Feb. 3 because of logistical problems.

“We are still very much 100 percent committed to saving this ship as she has a role to play that will benefit citizens of Hawaii, the environment and help create new opportunities across the Pacific region,” O’Neill said in an email. “If we succeed we will save Hawaii taxpayers almost up to $1.5 million, which has been estimated as the cost for Harbors to sink her.”

A deal with Offshore Heavy Transport (O.H.T.) of Norway fell through in the summer of 2018. Then the group said late last year it had arranged another lift from Sevenstar Yacht Transfer of the Netherlands in February.

O’Neill wrote that the group may have been “a bit optimistic” about the time it would take to secure commercial sponsors after launching its campaign in mid-November. He said the group continues to attract widespread support, including new marketing support from a team experienced in the America’s Cup race.

A new website has been launched, along with another fundraising campaign.

The state Harbors Division has given the Honolulu-based Friends of the Falls of Clyde, the registered owner of the ship, until Feb. 6 to move the historic ship from Pier 7.

If that deadline is not met, according to Friends president Bruce McEwan, then the state has informed the group it will start auction proceedings.

The Falls of Clyde — listed on the national register of historic places as the last surviving, iron-hulled, four-masted, full rigged ship — was impounded by the state Harbors Division in August 2016.

“We don’t want to see her auctioned off because we don’t know what that’s going to mean for her future,” said McEwan, who fears the ship could end up in the wrong hands.

The Friends recently celebrated the Falls of Clyde’s 140th birthday in December with a whisky blessing.

Originally built by Russell &Co. in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in 1878, the Falls of Clyde is believed to be the last surviving ship of a fleet named after Scottish waterfalls. It departed from Greenock, Scotland, in 1879 for its maiden voyage to Karachi, Pakistan, then became part of Matson’s fleet before being converted into an oil tanker.

In retirement at Hono­lulu Harbor, the ship became a museum and hosted weddings, funerals, parties, military re-enlistment ceremonies and even a re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party.

It survived Hurricane Iwa and two previous attempts to sink it. Bishop Museum, its previous owner, was going to scrap it, but the Friends purchased it for $1 in 2008. It has been berthed at Pier 7 for free since 2008.

Hawaii Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara says the state has supported the Friends by making the berth available for no charge all these years.

“HDOT has and is making every effort to work with the Friends of the Falls of Clyde since the revocation of their gratis revocable permit in June 2016,” he said in an email. “The Friends of Falls of Clyde has made several attempts to partner with supporters to return the vessel to its place of origin. While its efforts seemed promising, the plans have once again stalled. HDOT is coordinating with the Friends to move forward with its departure from Honolulu Harbor. It is ultimately the responsibility of the Friends of Falls of Clyde, as the registered owner, to remove its vessel.”

McEwan said the Friends have reached out to U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono to see if an agreement could be worked out to berth the Falls of Clyde at Pearl Harbor until it can be transported back to Scotland. Other boat harbors on Oahu are too small, he said. So far, he has not heard back.

He said he has not given up and is still hoping for an eleventh-hour save.

“Ideally, out of the clear blue, we’d like to see someone who is a preservationist come forward, take over the ship at a reasonable price and move her somewhere and continue restoration,” McEwan said.