‘Protected for another century’: experts lift 15-tonne foremast from HMS Victory
Summary
A team carefully removed a 15-tonne iron foremast from HMS Victory, a historic British warship, as part of a £42 million project to conserve the ship. This is the first time in over 130 years that the ship has been without all its masts, and the restoration work is expected to continue until 2033.Key Facts
- HMS Victory’s 15-tonne wrought iron foremast was lifted off slowly and carefully by a team of about 30 people.
- A large 750-tonne crane was used to remove the 23-meter mast without damaging the ship.
- Two more masts, the mizzen and bowsprit, will be removed soon for conservation.
- The ship’s original wooden masts were replaced in the 1890s with wrought iron ones recycled from the decommissioned HMS Shah.
- This is the first time the ship has had no masts since the iron masts were installed over 130 years ago.
- The entire conservation, called the Big Repair, began with the main mast’s removal in 2021 and will last until 2033.
- The team included shipwrights, riggers, archaeologists, engineers, and conservators working carefully to protect the historic vessel.
- HMS Victory and the nearby Historic Dockyard will stay open to visitors throughout the conservation work.
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