The country’s last distant water sidewinder trawler is on the move for the first time in more than 20 years.
The Arctic Corsair, Hull’s famed museum ship, will move to a temporary berth at Alexandra Dock on Sunday 4 August.
It is part of the Environment Agency’s £60 million River Hull flood defence scheme, linked with Hull City Council’s major maritime project, Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City.
The move has been funded by the Environment Agency and the European Regional Development Fund. The former has helped facilitate the removal of the Arctic Corsair and will dredge away the silt that has gathered around it over the years.
How the Arctic Corsair will look from the bottom of the dock at the North End Shipyard.
The vessel, currently berthed on the River Hull between Drypool and Myton Bridge, has operated as a visitor attraction since 1999.
It will be placed in temporary storage at Associated British Ports where it will receive major restoration works before moving to a permanent home at North End Shipyard at the centre of a new maritime visitor attraction.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for economic investment, regeneration, planning, land and property, said: “This is a key milestone and a huge undertaking as the trawler hasn’t moved since 1998. Working with a specialist towing company, the trawler will be moved to temporary storage.
“The vessel will then be preserved inside and out, without losing its charm and securing her long-term future at its new, dry berth at the North End Shipyard.
“This is part of the wider transformational plans to strengthen our maritime story and reconnect the heart of Hull to its historic waterfront, the place where the city’s history began.”
The full restoration of the Arctic Corsair is being funded by Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
It is part of the £27.4m plans for the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City programme to make Hull a world-class visitor destination.
Learn more about the project here.
