Museum-ship ownership and financial security

Is the Thames sloop discussed here already part of a national museum?

No, according to the exchange. Possible transfers remained unconfirmed; the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Imperial War Museum, which holds HMS Belfast, are separate institutions.

The concern is that a preserved warship might close for lack of money and be scrapped. A Thames sloop is raised as an example, but its name is unclear in the exchange. It was still outside national-museum ownership at the time of the discussion, with transfer to the National Museum of the Royal Navy mentioned as a possibility. Another recollection points to talks about the organization responsible for HMS Belfast, identified as the Imperial War Museum. Those are separate institutions, and neither proposed transfer is confirmed.