National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) has appointed four very different historic vessels from around the country to act as its Flagships of the Year for 2025 and ‘fly the flag’ for UK maritime heritage.
NHS-UK’s annual Flagship Awards have been running since 2009 and provide an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public. This can be through a variety of online activities, special events, open days, workshops and tours.
Flagships promote the role of NHS-UK by publicising its annual Photo Competition, Excellence in Maritime Conservation and Marsh Volunteer Awards. NHS-UK will work closely with each of the Flagships to promote their vessel and offer support and advice.
Flagships receive a special broad pennant to fly at the masthead and a brass plaque for their vessel, courtesy of sponsor Engraving Studios.
Meet our 2025 Flagships
Barnabas (1881 Fishing Vessel – Newlyn, Cornwall)
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/108/barnabas
Awarded in recognition of her plans for an exciting sailing season incorporating the Semaine Du Golfe de Morbihan, Falmouth Classics, Looe Luggers and a visit to the Isles of Scilly, as well as opportunities to promote lug rig in conjunction with other historic craft.
Built as a dipping lug-rigged pilchard driver by Henry Trevorrow of St Ives, Barnabas fished until 1954, when sold and converted to a yacht. By 1980, she was in the hands of the Maritime Trust, who carried out her first restoration. In 1994 the Cornish Maritime Trust bought her for £1, and, following a further restoration, she was relaunched in July 2006. She has since taken part in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant, attended traditional festivals in Cornwall and Brittany, completed a round-Britain circumnavigation, and transported sail cargo on the last leg of a voyage from Portugal and the Caribbean to raise awareness of the possibilities of sail transport. In 2024, as part of a Preservation, Education and Community project, she sailed over 1400 nautical miles to replace her masts in NW Scotland. Barnabas is looked after by Cornish Maritime Trust volunteers and sails from Newlyn’s Old Harbour.
Sir Walter Scott (1900 Passenger Vessel – Loch Katrine, The Highlands)
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/67/sir-walter-scott
Awarded in recognition of plans to celebrate her 125th anniversary year by hosting a Steamboat Festival with accompanying promotional activity, in addition to Christmas events and three sailings per day from March to October.
Built by William Denny of Dumbarton and named after the famous Scottish writer, Sir Walter Scott has graced the inland waters of Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands since 1900. She still has her original triple-expansion steam engine. Her first owners were two local hotel owners, who formed the Loch Katrine Steamboat Co. From 1952-2005, she was owned by the Water Department, City of Glasgow Corporation (Loch Katrine being a source of drinking water for Glasgow), and three further water companies. In 2005, The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust was formed to own, operate and preserve the vessel. A multi-year restoration was carried out, and in 2008, her coal-fired boilers were replaced with two new boilers which run on biofuel. Sir Walter Scott still operates as a pleasure steamer on Loch Katrine and celebrates her 125th birthday this year.
Llanthony (1934 Motor Yacht - Chertsey, Surrey)
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3831/llanthony
Awarded in recognition of her planned attendance at the Return to Dunkirk, where she will commemorate 85 years since Operation Dynamo as part of the UK's Anniversary Fleet, followed by a South Coast cruise and attendance at the St Katharine Dock Classic Boat Festival in September.
Built by Camper & Nicholson for a Welsh MP, and later owned by Lord Astor, whom, it is rumoured, helped the romance of Lady Simpson and King Edward VIII onboard. In 1940 she took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, rescuing 280 troops from the beaches while under heavy fire. The boat was badly damaged, and five crew members were killed. Her commander, Sub Lieutenant Robert Timbrell of the Royal Canadian Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. After the war she returned to private ownership and later cruised the Mediterranean as a charter yacht, but eventually the years caught up with her. Under present ownership, a full restoration was undertaken by Dennetts Boatyard, Chertsey, with the goal to regain her original beautiful lines and replace her iconic Camper & Nicholson superstructure. Llanthony is now a sophisticated gentleman’s motor yacht, with an interior inspired by the elegant art deco steamships of the era.
Dane (1947 Narrowboat – Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2920/dane
Awarded in recognition of her planned participation in the Etruria Canals Festival and Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club Festival, as well as regular trips, workshops and the opening of a new Learning Centre on site.
Built by the Mersey Weaver Ship and Canal Carrying Company by Charles Stanyer of Burslem, Staffordshire, Dane navigated the Trent & Mersey waterways until around 1957. She transported clay slip from Liverpool to the potteries, with return trips often involving the shipment of finished crates of pottery for onward shipment across the world. In 2012, Dane was purchased by the Narrow Boat Heritage Foundation and underwent a major restoration. She was then gifted to Re-Form Heritage and is now based at the Middleport Pottery heritage site. Students and visitors can learn about the history of the vessel and the Pottery, as well as the lives and challenges faced by workers transporting goods to Liverpool and Hull docks. Throughout the year, Dane participates in local canal festivals, offers public trips from April to October, and is used for weddings and at Christmas, when Santa and Mrs Santa arrive onboard.
Congratulations to our 2025 Flagships!
Photo credits: Cornish Maritime Trust, Paul Saunders Photography, Llanthony owner, Kev Maslin
