Tag: National Historic Ships

National Historic Ships UK 2016 photo competition and Marsh Award winners

Cat-D-Highly-commended-Philippe-Saudreau-On-Guide-Me.jpg
Cat-D-Winner-David-Stearne-Sheltering-Ferryman.jpg
Cat CWinner, Yasmin Steele – 50 degrees south.jpg

National Historic Ships UK held its 2016 photography competition and Marsh Volunteer Awards ceremonies on board HQS Wellington on London’s Victoria Embankment last week.

The awards aim to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with historic vessels through photography, volunteering and by operating them, and encouraging the public to go on board at festivals and events held around the UK coasts, lakes, and rivers.

The £1,000 prize overall winner prize for the 2016 photography competition chosen from hundreds of entries was winner Yasmin Steele for her image, 50 Degrees South. It was chosen from hundreds of entries awarded by National Historic Ships UK.

Judge Rob Peake, who edits Classic Boat magazine, said the shot was a breathtaking photo that puts the viewer on the aft deck as the boat rolls in a roaring Southern Ocean blow. ‘It’s an accomplished shot too, taken no doubt with freezing hands, on the most unstable of platforms,’ he added.

Now in its sixth year, the Marsh Volunteer Awards supported by the Marsh Christian Trust recognise outstanding volunteers in the conservation or operation of historic vessels in the UK. This year the individual award went to Fred Attwood, who volunteers at Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust. He received a prize of £500.

The Marsh team volunteer award was presented to the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society engineering department for their efforts in operating and maintaining SS Daniel Adamson. The team received a prize of £1,000.

Jill Sim who volunteers at  was presented with a special commendation and received a prize of £500.

The anual National Historic Ships flagship of the year award for operational vessels was awarded to Balmoral in recognition of her outstanding public programme. Regional flagship awards went to Kennet (Merseyside) and Excelsior (East Anglia).

National Historic Ships flagship awards go to MV Balmoral, the shortboat Kennet, and the sailing smack Excelsior

National Historic Ships UK has announced its seventh flagship awards including two regional awards:

  • MV Balmoral for an outstanding and extensive UK programme. The recently-formed MV Balmoral Fund Ltd submitted an extensive and very well presented public UK–wide coastal cruising programme ranging from Scotland, through North Wales and the Bristol Channel and the South coast, round to London

Regional flagship awards have been made to:

  • the shortboat Kennet, in recognition of an intensive programme of visits within the Shipshape Mersey Network, focusing on the Leeds-Liverpool canal. In view of the exemplary quality of this application, the judges decided to make an exceptional award of £350
  • the sailing smack Excelsior, in recognition of her 2016 Shipshape East Anglia programme, which extends across the North Sea and the South coast of England, and even Newfoundland

The new regional awards are intended to be a recognition that not all vessels have the capacity to sail around the UK and abroad, but may still be undertaking a worthwhile programme of public events and raising awareness of historic vessels and our maritime heritage.

The criteria still require vessel owners to demonstrate seasonal programmes that engage with the public through festivals, demonstrations, offering on-board cruises, quayside visits, educational programmes, participation in races and similar activities, and flagships are expected to promote National Historic Ships UK.

The National Flagship of the Year receives £500 to spend on the vessel, and the special Flagship Broad Pennant (which has become a feature of the award) to fly at the masthead. The Regional Flagships normally receive £250 to be spent on the vessel, along with a Regional Flagship Broad Pennant.

National Historic Ships UK advises the Department of Culture, Media & Sport and a range of grant giving organisations on priorities for ship conservation and is the official voice for historic vessels in the UK. It maintains the National Register of Historic Vessels, which lists over a thousand significant historic vessels.

National Historic Ships UK flagship of the year competition opens for 2015

National Historic Ships UK is once again calling for entries for its annual ‘Flagship of the Year’ competition for an award, and the job of representing NHSUK for the year.

Last year’s winner was the Humber keel Daybreak, pictured above, as are her owners and the broad pennant.

Entry is open to vessels on the National Register of Historic Ships that are in operational condition, and which raise their profile by attending public events and festivals. The successful applicant will be given a broad pennant to fly, marking their flagship status and the year of the award.

The vessel will also receive a grant of up to £1,000 to assist with the costs of running the vessel and appearing at major national or international events.

Owners should apply via the NHSUK website, outlining their planned cruising programme for the season, including:

  • key places to be visited
  • details of events or festivals to be attended
  • significance of the vessel and any links to cruising destinations
  • public benefit from vessel attendance at any events
  • ways in which the vessel would support National Historic Ships UK during the year

Applications should also state how the grant would be used, and are encouraged to include photographs to demonstrate the aesthetic or promotional impact the vessel will make.

The competition closing date is the 31st March 2015.