The Shetland Times responded (to news that the Swan was available for purchase) with enthusiasm, describing this as "a rare opportunity to retrieve part of Shetland's maritime heritage." This suggestion was taken up the following week by Thomas Moncrieff of Lerwick, a retired technical and navigation teacher and keen yachtsman, as well as an enthusiast for all things pertaining to Shetland's maritime heritage. In a letter to the editor of the newspaper he wrote:

A Mr Keith Parkes has had the Swan lifted from the bottom of Hartlepool dock restored so as to be fit to go to sea again. Most ports all round Britain now have maritime museums of some kind, but Shetland is lagging sadly behind. A few weeks ago the Shetland Amenity Trust was willing to spend nearly £10,000 to break up the controversial remains of the Jessie Sinclair in Effirth. If three and a half times that sum cannot be obtained to buy the Swan, then Shetlanders need not talk of boat museums and maritime heritages. There will never be another Swan.

His reference to the Jessie Sinclair recalled another failure on the part of Shetlanders to preserve a historic fishing vessel. She was one of the MFV class, built for Admirality duties during World War Two with fishing in mind when peace should be restored. On one memorable trip to the fishing grounds at East Anglia she won the Prunier Trophy for the top catch of the season - the only Shetland boat ever to win this coveted prize.