National Historic Ships Committee
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The National Historic Ships Committee (NHSC) is the co-ordinating body tasked with promoting the preservation of significant ships and vessels which reflect the UK's maritime history. The NHSC provides an overview of all aspects of historic vessel preservation.
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[edit] Background
Following a 1991 seminar to explore the problems of neglect of the preservation of historic ships and vessels in the UK, the Chairman of Trustees of the National Maritime Museum formally launched the NHSC in July 1992. Since its inception, the NHSC has gained the support of many important bodies, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, English Heritage, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
All costs are covered by the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich which is responsible for appointing the Chairman of the NHSC. Other committee member appointments are based on experience and reputation in historic ship preservation, and for the ability to provide regional and specialist representation. The NHSC is not involved in awarding grants or operating vessels, but deals with policy and strategy at a national level, and provides owners, government departments and other bodies with technical and funding information on the national importance, condition, maintenance and preservation of historic vessels.
[edit] The National Register of Historic Vessels
The NRHV is a database of vessels which meet the necessary criteria for inclusion. Currently, vessels must be:
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- of extraordinary maritime importance
- UK built and at least 50 years old
- over 12.19 metres (40 feet) in length (not including bowsprit)
- substantially intact and be based or operating in UK waters.
There are currently over 1,200 vessels listed in the database. In addition to images of some vessels, database entries record information on the vessel designer and builder, the dimensions, construction and propulsion methods, the service history, the current location and ownership. Before inclusion in the database, an authoritative assessment is made of the significance of specific historic vessels. The NHRV is therefore an important tool which can assist with identification of ships "at risk", and inform the prioritisation of vessels that should be preserved.
Within the NRHV there are two important sub-groups on the database: the Core Collection, with 60 vessels listed and Designated Vessels, with 152 vessels listed.
Core collection vessels are of pre-eminent national importance, and illustrate the broad achievement of UK maritime history, including changes in construction and technology. Designated Vessels are of substantial heritage merit, but may be of greater regional or local significance, meriting support ahead of other non-Core Collection vessels. Over 57% of historic vessels recorded on the NRHV are either privately owned or commercially operated, with museum's and charitable trusts accounting for 14% of the total.
