2 Background and context
8. DCMS conceded in its written submission that the
plight of maritime heritage and ship preservation has been an
issue for a number of years.[7]
Historic vessels have rarely been funded directly by Government
and, in 1989, the English Tourist Board withdrew support.[8]
In 1992, English Heritage withdrew from grant-aid for the sector
following a review of its strategies and priorities.[9]
In summary, the historic fleet has been without specific official
support for well over 10 years. This appears to have created a
legacy of neglect that it will be hard to counter.
9. Under current arrangements, the principal source
of public funding for the preservation of historic ships is the
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)[10]
whose aim is: "to conserve and enhance the UK's diverse heritage;
to encourage more people to be involved in and make decisions
about their heritage; and to ensure that everyone can learn about,
have access to, and enjoy their heritage."[11]
In its evidence HLF stated, in the context of maritime heritage,
that: "since 1994, HLF has awarded £38.6 million to
68 projects relating to 44 individual vessels."[12]
10. The Government's funding for historic ships is
only channelled indirectly via grant-in-aid to museums that have
historically significant vessels within their collections.[13]
Other significant sources of funding include private owners, private
trusts and charitable trusts.[14]
The Government paid tribute to the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication
of private individuals and organisations in the sector.[15]
11. There is no system for the statutory listing
and protection of historic vessels, as there is for buildings.[16]
Identification and classification of the historic fleet has come
about through the National Historic Ships Committee (NHSC).[17]
This body originated at a seminar held in 1987 at the National
Maritime Museum to discuss the problems of the preservation of
historic ships and craft.[18]
The NHSC, an entirely voluntary forum, was launched in 1992 with
the aim of securing the preservation, in the long term, of a sample
of ships representing important aspects of maritime history.[19]
12. The NHSC was responsible for commissioning a
key research project in 1995, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund,
carried out by the Scottish Institute for Maritime Studies at
the University of St Andrews.[20]
The outcome of the project was a computerised inventory of surviving
historic vessels, known as the United Kingdom National Register
of Historic Vessels. The Register contains 936 vessels and is
currently maintained by the National Maritime Museum.[21]
It identifies a "Core Collection" of 58 historic vessels
judged to comprise vessels of "pre-eminent national importance;"
and a "Designated Vessel" list comprising vessels of
"substantial heritage merit but of greater local or regional
significance."[22]
13. We welcome and greatly commend this effort
to establish the National Register of Historic Vessels, funded
by Lottery money, but inspired by voluntary and private enthusiasm
for the subject. The Register is the first vital step towards
a strategy containing priorities and imperatives for preserving
Britain's maritime heritage. We only regret that it has taken
so long for such an initiative to be established and that it had
to be accomplished without substantial assistance from the Department
with policy responsibility in this area. Of itself, the National
Register will not change the fortunes of any individual ship,
but without a clear picture of the extent of our maritime heritage,
it is impossible to adopt a proper strategy to protect it.
7 Ev 23 Back
8
Ibid Back
9
Ibid Back
10
Ev 24 and Ev 10 Back
11
Ev 10 Back
12
Ibid. Beneficiaries of the awards include SS Great Britain, Mary
Rose and Dover Boat. Back
13
Ev 24. Examples include HMS Belfast at the Imperial War Museum
and over 200 small craft in the National Maritime Museum's collections.
Back
14
Ibid Back
15
Ev 24 Back
16
Ibid. An exception to this is, for example, Cutty Sark which,
as a permanent land based fixture, is a Grade 1 listed structure.
Back
17
Ibid Back
18
www.nhsc.org.uk Back
19
Ibid Back
20
Ibid Back
21
Ibid Back
22
Ev 24 Back
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