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09/05/2013
WWI Ship Granted Lottery Funding
The HMS Caroline is to be turned into a "floating museum", following a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £12.2m.
The last surviving ship of the WWI Battle of Jutland in 1916 has been docked at Belfast's shipyards for about 90 years.
HMS Caroline had fallen into disrepair in recent years, but this latest funding boost will aim to transform it into a new visitor experience in time for the Battle's centenary.
The proposals have been awarded a first-round pass, which is an endorsement of the outline project and an agreement that the finished project would justify the funding.
Development funding of £845,600 was also awarded to enable the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) to draw up more detailed plans in order to secure the full HLF grant of £12.2m.
Enterprise and Tourism Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement.
"Today’s announcement of support by the Heritage Lottery Fund is great news and brings plans to have HMS Caroline restored and preserved for future generations one step closer," she said.
"Over the last year, there has been a significant effort, from myself and others to find a solution to keeping HMS Caroline here. I, along with Nigel Dodds MP and former Northern Ireland Minister of State Hugo Swire, met with Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans to press the case for keeping HMS Caroline in Belfast.
"In October 2012, I was able to confirm that we had secured just over £1million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund for immediate repairs to prevent any further deterioration."
The Minister continued: "We have developed a strong partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy. This partnership will continue as we restore the ship.
"HMS Caroline has become part of the city’s rich maritime heritage. Its restoration in the Alexander Dock will complement and enhance our tourism offering in the city and protect a heritage asset of local and national importance. Our ultimate aim is to transform the ship into a world-class floating museum in time for the Battle of Jutland centenary in 2016, as I believe HMS Caroline has huge potential as a visitor experience."
(IT/CD)
The last surviving ship of the WWI Battle of Jutland in 1916 has been docked at Belfast's shipyards for about 90 years.
HMS Caroline had fallen into disrepair in recent years, but this latest funding boost will aim to transform it into a new visitor experience in time for the Battle's centenary.
The proposals have been awarded a first-round pass, which is an endorsement of the outline project and an agreement that the finished project would justify the funding.
Development funding of £845,600 was also awarded to enable the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) to draw up more detailed plans in order to secure the full HLF grant of £12.2m.
Enterprise and Tourism Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement.
"Today’s announcement of support by the Heritage Lottery Fund is great news and brings plans to have HMS Caroline restored and preserved for future generations one step closer," she said.
"Over the last year, there has been a significant effort, from myself and others to find a solution to keeping HMS Caroline here. I, along with Nigel Dodds MP and former Northern Ireland Minister of State Hugo Swire, met with Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans to press the case for keeping HMS Caroline in Belfast.
"In October 2012, I was able to confirm that we had secured just over £1million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund for immediate repairs to prevent any further deterioration."
The Minister continued: "We have developed a strong partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy. This partnership will continue as we restore the ship.
"HMS Caroline has become part of the city’s rich maritime heritage. Its restoration in the Alexander Dock will complement and enhance our tourism offering in the city and protect a heritage asset of local and national importance. Our ultimate aim is to transform the ship into a world-class floating museum in time for the Battle of Jutland centenary in 2016, as I believe HMS Caroline has huge potential as a visitor experience."
(IT/CD)
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