The foremast of HMS Victory, Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship from the Battle of Trafalgar, was safely removed as part of a £42 million conservation project. The operation took place at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and is the first stage in a three-night process to remove all masts from the 18th-century warship.
Key Takeaways
The foremast of HMS Victory has been removed as part of a £42 million conservation project at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This is the first stage in a three-night operation that will also involve removing the mizzen and bowsprit.
- Foremast removal marks the beginning of a major conservation effort for HMS Victory, Lord Nelson's flagship from the Battle of Trafalgar.
- A 750-tonne crane was used to lift the foremast safely during an overnight operation.
- The mizzen and bowsprit will be removed over the next two days as part of a £42 million conservation project, with all work expected to finish by 2033.
- HMS Victory has been in dry dock at Portsmouth since 1922 and remains open to visitors during the works.
A 750-tonne crane was used to lift the foremast, which will be followed by the removal of the mizzen (rear) and bowsprit over the next two days. The ship has been in dry dock at Portsmouth since 1922 and remains open to visitors during the works.
The conservation project, dubbed 'The Big Repair,' aims to restore Victory, the world's oldest commissioned warship. This includes enclosing the ship in a scaffolding structure until the work is completed in 2033. The main mast was removed in 2021 as part of the initial restoration efforts.
Patrizia Pierazzo, HMS Victory deputy project director, stated that the team worked through initial challenges but successfully removed the foremast safely. Andrew Baines, executive director of museum operations for the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN), emphasized the meticulous planning and precision required for such a complex operation.
The ship's original wooden masts were replaced with wrought iron masts in the 1890s, recycled from the decommissioned frigate HMS Shah. These masts are considered important historical objects and will be conserved before being returned to the ship. The conservation project is a significant milestone for preserving one of the world's most famous warships.
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