The SS Shieldhall returned to service in April following a passenger certificate grant by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency in 2012. A development grant of £143,600 will allow essential work to take place and a dry dock inspection at A&P’s facilities in Falmouth. This comes in preparation for the submission of a full HLF grant of £838,100 to ensure the long term future of the ship.
A volunteer of the Solent Steam Packet Ltd charity, Graham Mackenzie, said: “This funding will help us to draw up a full submission which if successful will ensure the SS Shieldhall continues to sail for many more years and to be a working example of our maritime heritage.”
The passenger sailing vessel weighs in at 1,972 gt, measures 82m loa and is powered by two 800 hp triple-expansion steam engines. The ship is crewed by volunteers and relies on proceeds from fares and donations for survival.
Stuart McLeod, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for South East England, said: “SS Shieldhall is the largest remaining sea-going steamship operated by volunteers in the UK, and the need for these works is evident to conserve the ship for future generations. HLF is pleased to give initial support to this worthwhile project.”
