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The Guardian World1 min read
‘Protected for another century’: experts lift 15-tonne foremast from HMS Victory
TL;DR
Experts successfully lifted a 15-tonne foremast from HMS Victory as part of a £42m conservation project. The operation involved a 750-tonne crane and a careful approach to avoid damaging the historic vessel.
Key points
- 15-tonne foremast lifted from HMS Victory
- Part of a £42m conservation project
- Operation required a 750-tonne crane
- Care taken to avoid damaging the historic vessel
- Two more masts will be removed soon
HMS VictoryBattle of Trafalgar
There is only one correct way to extricate a 15-tonne wrought iron mast from one of the world’s most famous and beloved warships – very slowly, and with extreme care.
Which is precisely what a 30-strong team, led by shipwrights and riggers, did on Monday night into Tuesday morning, when they lifted the foremast from HMS Victory as part of a £42m conservation project.
A 750-tonne crane removed the 23-metre mast from the ship, an operation requiring power to lift the wrought iron structure but also a great deal of delicacy to make sure that the fabric of the vessel was not harmed.
In the coming days – as long as the wind does not get up – two more masts, the mizzen and bowsprit, will also be craned off Nelson’s 18th-century flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar and laid on a Portsmouth dockside ready for conservation work to begin.
Stuart Sheldon, lead rigger, and Angela Middleton, head of conservation, preparing for the lift. Photograph: Matt Sills
At daybreak on Tuesday, Patrizia Pierazzo, deputy project director, hailed it a “great start”. He said: “The team worked through some initial challenges but overall, the lift process was undertaken safely, and we now have the foremast securely removed from the ship.”
Andrew Baines, executive director of museum operations at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, admitted he had been a little anxious. “I think you’re always nervous when you’re dealing with something like Victory, which is a 250-year-old structure that’s been knocked about over the years.
“These masts have not always been maintained as well as they might have been. We’re lifting historic wrought iron structures out of a very important timber historic structure. So it’s fairly complex.”
Q&A
What is the significance of the foremast removal from HMS Victory?
The removal is part of a £42m conservation project aimed at preserving the historic warship for future generations.
How was the foremast lifted from HMS Victory?
A 30-member team used a 750-tonne crane to carefully lift the 15-tonne wrought iron mast from the ship.
What other masts will be removed from HMS Victory?
In addition to the foremast, the mizzen and bowsprit masts are also scheduled to be craned off for conservation work.
Why is the conservation of HMS Victory important?
Conserving HMS Victory is crucial to preserving a significant piece of naval history, particularly as it was Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
