National Historic Ships

Hannah Cunliffe - Historical Researcher

National Historic Ships

In 2006, I was employed as a consultant by National Historic Ships - a non-departmental public body advising the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on national historic ship preservation and funding priorities. Initially, I worked with them to update the National Register of Historic Vessels (NRHV) which can be viewed at www.nhsc.org.uk.

The NRHV is a database of some 1,200 vessels which:

were built in the UK and are at least 50 years old.
are over 40ft (12.19 metres) in length (not including bowsprit).
are based and operating in UK waters.
are substantially intact.
have extraordinary maritime importance.

It includes a core collection of vessels and lists designated vessels of regional significance.

Infrastructure Audit

I am currently working on a new project for National Historic Ships who have commissioned an Infrastructure Audit of all the skills and facilities available for the repair and maintenance of historic vessels in the

This project is directly in response to comments from owners of craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels, who have experienced increasing difficulty in maintaining their historic ships in a world where old techniques and skills are dying out without the commercial demand for them.

As consultant for this project, I am carrying out a survey of the remaining skills and facilities linked to maritime heritage in the UK, as well as canvassing opinion amongst owners as to any problems they have had in locating these and what materials or labour has had to be sourced from abroad.

This information will be published in spring 2008 on National Historic Ships' website at www.nhsc.org.uk in the form of a readily searchable gazetteer of contact details.

I would be grateful if visitors to my website could fill in the form below with any information on existing facilities, as well as including details of resources which may have been missing or hard to find during a vessel restoration or annual refit.

Infrastructure Audit: Survey Form (please fill in the boxes where applicable)

Personal Details - these are for information only and will not be published without prior permission. You may be contacted for further particulars on the details you provide in this survey.

Please put a X here if you DO NOT wish to be contacted again

Your name:

Address:

Email address: Website:

Telephone: Fax:

Please list any skills or facilities you personally provide for the historic vessels' sector

Vessel Owner Details

Name of Vessel: Type: Year of build: Where built: Length: Current location:

Type of Skills used in connection with vessel: (eg: surveyors/sailmakers/boatbuilders/insurance brokers etc):

Type of Facilities used in connection with vessel: (eg: boatyards/slipways/dry docks/suppliers of specialist materials etc)

Recommendations of existing companies or individuals who provide the above skills/facilities: (please give name, location and contact detail where possible):

Skills or facilities that have proved difficult or impossible to source:

Have you ever sourced skills/facilities from abroad, having been unable to find the necessary resources in the UK? If yes, please give details.

Are you aware of any training facilities in the UK in connection with historic vessels? If yes, please give details.

In your opinion, are there any other maritime heritage skills for which training courses should be established?

Are you aware of any other similar gazetteers of skills or facilities for maritime heritage in the UK? If yes, please give details.

Any other comments related to this Audit:

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