Latest news with #maritimeheritage
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Now or never' to save €26m replica of historic French ship, campaigners say
French maritime enthusiasts are battling to save a replica of an 18th-century warship that became a symbol of the country's historic relationship with America. The copy of L'Hermione, a three-mast, 32-gun frigate that carried the Marquis de Lafayette across the Atlantic to announce France's support for American independence from Great Britain in the revolutionary war, has been in dry dock at Anglet, near Bayonne, since its oak hull was found to be riddled with fungus four years ago. Campaigners have raised €5m (£4.3m) to replace part of the rotted structure but say they need another €5m to make the vessel seaworthy again. Despite launching an appeal two years ago, the funds have not been found. A fresh plea for the remaining funds comes as relations between France and the US enter a stormy period after Donald Trump's threat to impose a 30% tariff on goods from the European Union. Emilie Beau, the executive director of the Hermione-La Fayette Association, told the Guardian: 'We need a generous patron and we now have very little time to find one. It has been three years in dry dock and its 1,200 tonnes of wood needs to be in sea water and not dry. 'We have been dampening the hull, but this could lead to the development of even more fungus. We're hoping that if someone comes forward with the funds, we could restart work to repair the hull in September, with a view to sailing again in 2027.' The replica of L'Hermione, which took 17 years to build and cost €26m, was launched in 2015 and sailed to New York where it was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. In 1780, the original ship made the voyage to America to help the revolutionaries led by George Washington in the war of independence. Onboard was Lafayette, Louis XVI's personal envoy to the man who would later become the first US president. Lafayette disembarked in Boston and rode to Washington's headquarters to deliver his message of French aid to the rebels. L'Hermione – nicknamed the 'Ship of Liberty' – spent two years battling the British naval blockade before returning to France. In 1793, she ran aground off western France and sank. The wreck was discovered in 1984. In 1992 a group of maritime history enthusiasts set up the Hermione-La Fayette Association to oversee the construction of a replica of the 66-metre-long ship at the former royal shipyard at Rochefort, using historic techniques but to modern standards to enable the ship to be certified to sail. The plans for L'Hermione had been lost, but her sister ship the Concorde had been captured by the British navy in the 1790s, and detailed drawings and measurements of the vessel, a jigsaw of more than 400,000 pieces of wood and iron, were found at the Admiralty in London. Unlike the original, the replica has modern navigation equipment and electric motors for manoeuvring in and out of ports. It was also fitted with showers and toilets, as opposed to a plank of wood with holes in it near the prow that the original crew would have used. The replica cannon are fake; otherwise, it would be classed as a warship and come under the control of the French navy. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion In 2021, L'Hermione was due to visit the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK, including sailing up the Thames, but after going into dry dock for maintenance before setting sail, workers discovered that the wood at the bow and stern was infested with lenzites and cellar polypore, both wood-decaying fungi. 'What we know about these fungi is that they existed in the 18th century, but back then it took six months to build a ship, and if one didn't come back or rotted, they just built another. Obviously, we cannot do that,' Beau said. 'We want to build a ship that lasts longer than they did at the time.' The association has issued a new international appeal for funds, saying it is 'now or never' to save the ship. 'About 10% of the hull wood was damaged; we have replaced the wood in the rear part but now we urgently need €5m to complete the work,' Beau said. 'L'Hermione is a symbolic, historical ship. It is not only a chef-d'oeuvre of technical achievement but it was called the frigate of liberty and carried the values of freedom and solidarity between peoples. 'Today it is a symbol of peace and humanity, and in the current difficult period our countries are going through, it represents diplomatic relations and common values. We don't want to lose that.'
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Your new banknote ideas - from British Bulldogs to Fawlty Towers
While cash might not be as popular as it once was, the opportunity to fashion the next series of banknotes has got brains whirring and tails a day of reporting on the Bank of England's public invitation to influence a major redesign of banknotes, there were more than 2,000 responses to Your Voice, Your BBC on the the British Bulldog, pictured on Cawsand Beach in Cornwall, will be one of the least likely contenders, despite being described as a "national treasure" by his owner Julie, from animals and nature, as well as railways and TV nostalgia have featured strongly among the ideas. Images of historical characters, starting with William Shakespeare, have featured on Bank of England notes since the Bank's chief cashier Victoria Cleland has suggested images on the next set of £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes could stick with notable figures of the past or move on to a new theme, as is seen on banknotes issued in Scotland, Nothern Ireland and around the Bank is giving people a month to select from certain themes, such as architecture, innovation or the arts, or suggest their own Bank has not commented on the number of entries so far, but - if responses to the BBC are anything to go by - they are likely to be inundated. Great ships Among the themes to be suggested was a celebration of the UK's maritime Mary Rose, HMS Belfast, HMS Trincomalee, HMS Victory, Cutty Sark, and the SS Great Britain are all worthy of a place on a banknote, according to Hilary in from Bristol goes further. "I don't just mean the spectacularly beautiful clipper ships, and instantly recognisable liners, but perhaps some of the lesser known vessels trading with Commonwealth countries, or oil rig support vessels working hard in the North Sea," he wrote. Famous landmarks There are appeals for the themes and choices to represent the whole of the Angel of the North is a regular suggestion, and areas of natural beauty such as the Yorkshire in Salisbury thinks using tourist sites on banknotes could bring benefits."Tourists come to England to see the main sites such as Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace, the Queen Elizabeth Tower etc," he says."If the banknotes showed these pictures then they would be more likely to visit the site, hold one up when taking a photo, and maybe even taking the note home as a souvenir." Classic TV characters Nostalgia features heavily, bringing a more recent historical outlook to notes that have carried images of people from the past for more than 50 years."Some classic British children's TV characters like Willow The Wisp, Bagpuss, or even a collection of them would make me smile," says Steve in Cardiff. "Likewise I think some classic British TV could be represented, like The Bill - no pun intended - or Casualty, soap operas or even comedies like Fawlty Towers. Television has been a large part of life for many people growing up and I'm sure, people would appreciate a bit of nostalgia on the notes." Vintage trains Nostalgia for the railways and "local and meaningful" stations also features in responses."With the 200 years of the railway in Britain being celebrated, it seems a shame not to celebrate that considering we gave railways to the world," says Ian in Derby. A mobile phone? Despite the wide range of options, some people are keen to stick to the way key figures in history are honoured on banknotes."Having looked at all the options I really do think that historical figures should still be number one choice. Might it be possible to include Diana Princess of Wales somewhere?" asks Elizabeth, from with cash used in only 12% of transactions, some say the time and effort involved in a huge overhaul of notes is unnecessary. "We are sadly faced with the prospect of a cashless society, with so many places refusing to accept my cash, so I have to wonder, why bother changing the design?" says Dawn in in Leighton Buzzard is much more blunt. "I would suggest that the new banknotes look like a mobile phone because that is how people are used to paying," he says. People can submit their views via an online form on the Bank's website, or by post, by the end of final decision on what exactly features on a banknote lies with the Bank's governor. Additional reporting by Bernadette McCague
CBC
08-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Volunteers face headwinds with Nova Scotia's historic schooners in peril
Nova Scotia's iconic wooden schooners, once the pride of coastal communities and a powerful symbol of the province's maritime heritage, are now at grave risk of vanishing forever. Jim Carwardine, president of the Nova Scotia Heritage Schooner Rescue Society, warns that these vessels — many over a century old — need urgent care. Without it, they could be lost to a perfect storm of aging caretakers, dwindling expertise and a critical lack of funding. The numbers reveal a stark heritage crisis: only five original Tancook Island schooners remain from a fleet that once numbered in the hundreds. These unique vessels, built between 1905 and 1945, represent a distinct Nova Scotian design, originally crafted for fishing and coastal trade before roads connected many isolated communities. "We're losing the technology, we're losing the ability," Carwardine said. "The younger generations, they don't have the time, they don't have the experience, and they don't have the money to put into the preservation of an old wooden boat." He said the current owners of vessels are these classic vessels "aging out," leaving nowhere for the schooners to go. Among the most endangered are the Wind Hawk, a 1964 schooner designed by the famed Gerald Stevens, which faces imminent destruction. Another, a "Bluenose Junior" built in the 1950s by William Roué, the designer of the original Bluenose, has been rotting out of the water at Porters Lake for 40 years. More than just old boats Carwardine said that restoring these vessels is about preserving engineering art and history, not just sentimentality. Unlike modern fibreglass boats, schooners were built with specialized wood and techniques that are nearly extinct today. The preservation of these schooners, Carwardine says, also offers tangible benefits, particularly for tourism. He points to the storied history of schooners, including the original Bluenose winning races in the 1920s and 1930s, as integral to Nova Scotia's attraction as a destination. Emma Lang, a public heritage professional, echoes the importance of saving these boats. "These vessels are not just about the fishing communities that they sailed from or were built [there]," she said. "They're also about the history of Nova Scotia, a place that was very connected to the world and part of a global economic system." Lang advocates for more funding to preserve a vital aspect of Nova Scotia's history. A race against time The Nova Scotia Heritage Schooner Rescue Society, a volunteer-run group, is working to restore the Elsie, a 1967 gaff-rigged schooner, at the East River Shipyard. However, with most of its members over 70, the society faces significant challenges in attracting younger volunteers and securing the necessary funds. "We need a living museum — not just static displays, but vessels that sail and teach," Carwardine says.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Former seafarers wanted for Arctic Corsair attraction in Hull
Volunteers with a seafaring background are being sought to work as visitor guides on a historic Arctic Corsair is due to reopen as a tourist attraction in Hull in the in 1960, the ship is the city's last surviving sidewinder trawler and will become the star exhibit at a new maritime Maritime Foundation, which looks after the vessel, has received a £20,000 grant from The Seafarers' Charity to help the recruitment process. Deborah Layde, chief executive of the charity, said: "The maritime sector has a rich heritage in the UK and beyond, and there is no one better placed to educate the next generation than someone with lived experience."Unfortunately, all too often former seafarers can struggle with issues like isolation and loneliness after a life at sea. "That's why this initiative is such a great opportunity for both the volunteers and the visitors involved with the Arctic Corsair."The ship is undergoing restoration work before being moved to its new birth at the revamped North End Shipyard on the River Hull. The Arctic Corsair was involved in the Cod Wars in the 1970s and rammed an Icelandic gunboat during the 1973, the ship broke the record for landing the greatest weight of cod and haddock from the White vessel is being refurbished as part of the Hull Maritime project, which also includes the restoration of Queens Gardens and the Maritime interested in volunteering is asked to contact HEY! to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Countdown is on for Sail 250 Virginia set to take place in Norfolk next June
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The official count down is on for Sail 250 Virginia in Norfolk. The event kicks off next June and will bring more than 60 ships to the region to celebrate Americas 250th birthday. State and local leaders came together during an event Friday afternoon to announce the official countdown to Sail 250. 'The ships at this time next year will be underway, making their way across the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean,' said Karen Scherberger, president and CEO of Sail 250 Virginia. 'We'll have over 65 ships from 20 different countries, bringing 10,000 if not more, crew members.' Scherberger said they've been planning for this since 2019. Norfolk is one of five U.S. ports that will host the event, and it will take place for 10 days next June. There will also be ships and events in 10 other Virginia waterfront cities during that time. 'It's coming together to recognize that we have collaboration from folks all over Hampton Roads and all over Virginia, not to mention four other partner port cities around the country who are going to celebrate America's heritage that is a maritime heritage,' Gov. Glenn Youngkin said. Youngkin was one of many Virginia leaders in Norfolk to talk about the special occasion. 'For Sail 250, we stand together and for Sail 250, we anticipate an extraordinary celebration,' Youngkin said. With more than three million total visitors expected, the event could bring in millions of dollars in revenue. 'The last time we had an event like this, in 2012 we recorded over $150 million in economic activity over the period of time that the ships were here, not just in Norfolk, but in the other regional cities that participate as well,' Scherberger said. 'Every corner that you look into, there is some benefit that everyone will receive.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
