About North East Maritime Trust (NEMT)
Based in South Shields, the Trust's focus is on regionally important historic working boat restoration, repair and conservation including maintenance, training and sailing for all. Their objectives are, principally:
- To educate the public in relation to the maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, especially the North East of England
- To encourage and facilitate the restoration, repair, maintenance, conservation and public display of historic working vessels and maritime craft, as well as maritime artefacts of all kinds
The coast of North East of England, from Berwick in the north to Whitby and beyond in the south has an extremely rich historic maritime and cultural heritage. The river Tyne is the birthplace of the first purpose built lifeboats and the formation of what was later to become the RNLI. NEMT encourages and invites everyone with an interest in maritime history to come along; they are welcome to see volunteers in action restoring or maintaining historic boats. Their restored boats are often to be seen on the river Tyne or off shore on the east coast.
The Fisherman’s Workshop and Boatshed
The main work of NEMT is undertaken by volunteers in the Fishermens’ Workshop and Boatshed. The main workshop, including artefact display area and office, is located on Wapping Street with access to the river from Satellite Quay and adjacent to the wooden boatshed. The boatshed is believed to be the last remaining traditional wooden boatshed with covered integral slipway along the entire North East coast between Eyemouth and Hull. The slipway into the Tyne allows boats up 12 tons to be winched in and out of the river. This valuable facility enables opportunities for NEMT to maintain historic wooden working boats and offer hands-on experience and skills training in traditional boat restoration, repair and maintenance.
The Boats
Henry Frederick Swan
NEMT's initial project was the 1918 self righting lifeboat Henry Frederick Swan which was successfully relaunched on 22nd April 2019, after a nine-year restoration. It is fitting that the lifeboat was returned to the Tyne for restoration opposite the present lifeboat station at which she served for a record twenty eight years. As with all NEMT boats, Henry Frederick Swan can be seen sailing on the east coast or at festivals and demonstrations as far south as Bridlington and north of the Firth of Forth.
You can watch a video of the conservation process from 2005 to re-launching in April 2019 here.
Bedford
Built at South Shields in 1886, Bedford was the last lifeboat to be built by the Tyne Lifeboat Institution (TLI) and was stationed throughout her service at South Shields. She was bought by NEMT at auction in 2017. The restoration has taken 4 years of hard work and dedication by all concerned, completed in September 2022, and Bedford was safely put into safe storage until a permanent location is found for public viewing. The result of all that planning, organisation, materials, and craftsmanship is now evident in this incredible example of South Shields boat building. NEMT believe she is the only complete example in the world of an evolution in lifeboat design which includes her wooden wheel carriage, oars, and life-saving equipment.
NEMT Boat Collection
The NEMT collection comprises a group of boats belonging to North East Maritime Trust, and others of special historical interest. Boats owned by NEMT and its close associate Northumbrian Fishing Heritage Trust include several restored Northumbrian cobles, a 1920’s Tyne foy boat, a number of early and mid 20th Century ring netters, and the 1886 'Bedford' pulling lifeboat with launching carriage currently undergoing restoration. The Trust also restored and maintains the second oldest lifeboat, the 1833 ‘Tyne’, which is on permanent covered display in South Shields. All boats are listed on either the National Register of Historic Vessels, or the National Small Boats Register (NSBR), maintained by the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.
"Associated Vessels" are members' boats, those whose owners have agreed that they will do their best to manage the conservation of their vessel in accordance with the Barcelona Charter. Though they receive helpful support and advice from NEMT, they are financially independent. Further details here.
NEMT encourages use of its boats and sailings take place throughout the year for training purposes or engaging in events at coastal ports. Being of historic design the boats are easily recognised and when not at sea or on the river Tyne they can be seen at trot moorings at South Shields or NE1 Pontoon, Newcastle Quayside and St. Peter’s Marina, Newcastle.
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