Hidden away on a rusting, forgotten ship in Wales lay a gamer’s dream: 50 vintage arcade machines, untouched for decades. These relics of a bygone gaming era sat silently on the Duke of Lancaster, a ship that had long since outlived its purpose. What began as an accidental discovery by urban explorers turned into a monumental effort to rescue a unique piece of gaming history.
A ship with a forgotten legacy
The Duke of Lancaster was no ordinary vessel. Launched in 1956, this cruise ship transported passengers and vehicles for over two decades before retiring to Llanerch-y-Mor in Wales. It was intended to become a luxury hotel and tourist attraction, but safety regulations forced its closure in 1983. For years, the ship sat abandoned, rusting on the Welsh coastline—a shadow of its former glory.
By the time explorers ventured onboard in 2009, the Duke of Lancaster had become an eerie monument to decay. But inside, they stumbled upon a treasure trove of arcade cabinets, some bearing the names of classics like Space Invaders, Galaxian, and Ground Shaker. These machines, once the stars of bustling arcades, had been stored and forgotten, their stories gathering dust for decades.
The mission to save the machines
News of the discovery spread quickly, capturing the attention of retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. Among them was Oliver Moazzezi, a devoted arcade collector who decided to spearhead the effort to rescue the machines. It was no small task.
“Just contacting the ship’s owner was a challenge,” Moazzezi recalled. “It took me eight months to track them down and convince them to let us even approach the ship.” Finally, in early 2011, Moazzezi and two fellow collectors made the journey to Llanerch-y-Mor to assess the condition of the machines.
What they found was both exhilarating and heartbreaking. Many of the machines were in surprisingly good shape, considering their decades-long confinement. Others had suffered significant damage due to water leaks caused by thefts of copper window frames, which had left the ship exposed to rain. Still, the group pressed on, determined to salvage what they could.
A race against time
Negotiations with the ship’s owner proved another hurdle. Once they realized the value of the arcade machines, the owners demanded a high price for their release. After months of back-and-forth, Moazzezi reached an agreement, but there was one final twist: the team was given just 10 days to remove all 50 machines.
Faced with this tight deadline, Moazzezi assembled a team of 12 collectors armed with vans, cranes, and sheer determination. The effort was monumental, but against all odds, they managed to extract the cabinets and transport them to safety.
Restoring a piece of gaming history
For many of the arcade machines, the journey didn’t end there. Years of neglect had left most of them inoperable, requiring painstaking restoration. Moazzezi and his team worked tirelessly to bring these machines back to life, one by one, ensuring they could once again light up screens and fill rooms with the familiar sounds of retro gaming.
These machines are more than just games—they’re artifacts of an era, each telling a story of a time when arcades were the heart of gaming culture. For collectors and enthusiasts, the Duke of Lancaster’s treasure is invaluable, a tangible link to the golden age of video games.
Preserving the past for future generations
While the arcade cabinets have found new life, the Duke of Lancaster remains where it has always been, quietly rusting on the Welsh coast. Plans to transform it into an art gallery have yet to materialize, leaving the ship a haunting reminder of what was left behind.
For the retro gaming community, the rescue of these arcade machines is a triumph—a reminder of the importance of preserving history, even when it comes in the form of pixelated screens and joystick controls. Every cabinet saved is a piece of gaming nostalgia, ready to inspire new generations of players and collectors alike.