The preservation of the UK'S historic fleet is to be the focus of a new government-backed group. In February this year, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the creation of a National Historic Ships Unit, an advisory body that will encourage the restoration of maritime heritage.
Following consultation, the government said that the new body will be formed in 2005/6 and be based at the National Maritime Museum, London.
It is set to 'encourage a better understanding of the costs of restoring and maintaining historic vessels, advise the Heritage Lottery Fund on ship preservation priorities and bids for funding, and promote historic ships to a wider audience.' The unit will cover England, Scotland and Wales.
The maritime community welcomed the move. 'Maritime heritage is extraordinarily neglected by the British for inexplicable reasons,' said Richard Woodman, the chairman of the National Historic Ships Committee (NHSC), the group that maintains the register of Britain's historic fleet and the At-Risk Register.
He said that, in comparison with built heritage, the public are 'generally ill-informed about the sea... It's got to the point where really important heritage is going to descend into matchwood unless we are much more vigorously active in saving such ships.'
Mike Lewis, a committee member of the NHSC and the museums and heritage officer at the Newport Museums and Heritage Service, said: 'There is huge benefit in seeing [historic ships] being taken seriously by government.'
The government is to give the unit £100,000 to establish itself as an interim body in 2005/6. This is to increase to £170,000 in 2006/7, when the unit's work will be overseen by an independent advisory board.
The board will be appointed, after consultation, by the secretary of state for culture. A further £80,000 will be allocated, at the government's discretion, to support research, publications and training. The unit won't directly fund ship conservation.
There are around 50 vessels in the UK in the top league of naval heritage, like SS Great Britain in Bristol. 160 vessels are considered of importance and 1,800 are privately-owned small craft. About one fifth of the total are on the At Risk Register.
But many of the small vessels are found by enthusiasts, and preservation is attempted without real expertise. 'Ship preservation has been propped up by individuals who have not had the voice to articulate the issues,' said Lewis.
Woodman added: 'I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm in saving a historic vessel. But I would caution them that to do so successfully it needs to be thought through, with a sustainable plan which is carefully structured.'
Following consultation, the government said that the new body will be formed in 2005/6 and be based at the National Maritime Museum, London.
It is set to 'encourage a better understanding of the costs of restoring and maintaining historic vessels, advise the Heritage Lottery Fund on ship preservation priorities and bids for funding, and promote historic ships to a wider audience.' The unit will cover England, Scotland and Wales.
The maritime community welcomed the move. 'Maritime heritage is extraordinarily neglected by the British for inexplicable reasons,' said Richard Woodman, the chairman of the National Historic Ships Committee (NHSC), the group that maintains the register of Britain's historic fleet and the At-Risk Register.
He said that, in comparison with built heritage, the public are 'generally ill-informed about the sea... It's got to the point where really important heritage is going to descend into matchwood unless we are much more vigorously active in saving such ships.'
Mike Lewis, a committee member of the NHSC and the museums and heritage officer at the Newport Museums and Heritage Service, said: 'There is huge benefit in seeing [historic ships] being taken seriously by government.'
The government is to give the unit £100,000 to establish itself as an interim body in 2005/6. This is to increase to £170,000 in 2006/7, when the unit's work will be overseen by an independent advisory board.
The board will be appointed, after consultation, by the secretary of state for culture. A further £80,000 will be allocated, at the government's discretion, to support research, publications and training. The unit won't directly fund ship conservation.
There are around 50 vessels in the UK in the top league of naval heritage, like SS Great Britain in Bristol. 160 vessels are considered of importance and 1,800 are privately-owned small craft. About one fifth of the total are on the At Risk Register.
But many of the small vessels are found by enthusiasts, and preservation is attempted without real expertise. 'Ship preservation has been propped up by individuals who have not had the voice to articulate the issues,' said Lewis.
Woodman added: 'I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm in saving a historic vessel. But I would caution them that to do so successfully it needs to be thought through, with a sustainable plan which is carefully structured.'
