The Vessels at Risk List
One of our aims is the maintenance of the Register, which now includes four lists of vessels - the Core Collection List, the Designated Vessels List, the Registered Only List and the Vessels at Risk List. In many ways this last list is the most important because it identifies any registered vessel that is thought to be under threat.
We think this final list is useful because:
- it provides in one place any information we have received that suggests a vessel is endangered or generally at risk.
- it highlights the specific and critical needs of the vessel.
- it can help alert central government, national executives, local authority and the general public to potential threats to important parts of the historic fleet.
The designation of a vessel on the 'Vessels at Risk' list is seen as a partnership between the vessel owner or custodian and the Committee. Once established of course, we would want to keep it accurate and up to date. National Historic Ships is not setting itself up as an inspection authority but it does want to ensure that the picture held here at Greenwich of a particular vessel’s condition and transmitted on this website is an accurate one. We are particularly keen to make sure that the specific needs of a vessel at risk are identified, so that anything that can help improve the situation is done. We also want to assist as much as we can to identify and promote constructive, helpful and practcal solutions. It may be that by identifying the vessel in this way we help to find better funding opportunities for the vessel.
Being on the official 'At Risk List' in no way detracts from the historical importance of a vessel and its current status on the register.
In the main, the vessel’s condition is the key issue that determines 'at risk'. There are other characteristics that can suggest 'at risk'. If, for example, the vessel currently has no regular maintenance work being carried out or if there is no regular income coming into the project that supports the vessel. Other characteristics that can also help identify risk are the lack of any conservation planning or very low levels of volunteer/friend support. Another area, which the Heritage Lottery Fund focuses on, is whether the project supporting the vessel has activities, which increase participation in heritage, include training, education or improving access for the disadvantaged or disabled.
We really need everyone’s help here to keep this list up-to-date – let us know if you think the list is incorrect or out-of-date.
Please note: the image on this page will change each time the page is refreshed or reloaded. Images on this page are of vessels on the At Risk list whose owners have given permission.