Heritage Afloat

Preservation Crisis - What Heritage Afloat is doing

In recent years a very small number of vessels have benefited from Heritage Lottery Funding and Heritage Afloat has helped to encourage applicants and commented on the policy.

In 1998 Heritage Afloat gave evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport Inquiry on the future of HMS Cavalier and other vessels at risk, alongside other maritime preservation groups, commenting in particular on the lack of any national policy in this area. The subsequent transfer of HMS Cavalier to Chatham and support from HLF were major successes for the cause.

HMS Cavalier

Many thanks to APMA for this photo.

Heritage Afloat has also helped to create a new initiative to preserve wooden fishing boats being decommissioned under EC regulations rather than seeing them completely destroyed. In negotiations with MAFF and subsequently DEFRA the principle has been established that former fishing vessels can be retained for preservation subject to safeguards. Currently the details of the scheme are being re-negotiated and we are hopeful of a successful outcome.