Plans to protect the future Swansea Marina’s much-loved Helwick lightship have been unveiled by Swansea Council.
Cabinet has agreed to spend around £450,000 to restore the striking red and white vessel moored in the marina so it can be protected and enjoyed by future generations.
The aim is for Helwick to be restored at the local dry dock in Swansea where it will be repaired and returned to the marina.
The Helwick and two other vessels – the Olga and the Canning – are set to be preserved and protected under a plan that could see the Olga sailing again and the Canning restored by expert enthusiasts.
The council is also taking action to protect the marina from potential pollution by removing and scrapping and abandoned vessel The Seamark, which is not owned by the council. It has been abandoned in the Marina by its owners for more than a decade. The council is using statutory powers to take action now before its condition gets worse.
Helwick remains part of the Swansea Museum’s Maritime Collection and continues to be cared for as a museum exhibit. Olga and Canning are now managed as historic assets by the council.
Discussions are ongoing with the Steam Boat Trust to take on responsibility for the Canning – a steam tug which was built in 1954 and was acquired by Swansea Museum in 1975. It’s hoped the Trust can restore and maintain the vessel.
Plans for the future of the three council owned vessels and the abandoned vessel are being discussed by the council’s Cabinet next week.
Elliot King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equality, said: “The Helwick is such an iconic feature of the marina and has been with us for a long time.
“That’s why we’re really pleased to have come up with a viable proposal that will see the vessel repaired for future generations to enjoy and has the encouragement of experts in historic ship preservation.
“We’ve drawn on expertise and experience of specialists in historic ships and marine museums from across the UK to help create a plan that will revitalise the Helwick, Canning and The Olga.
“While the Helwick will remain an inaccessible vessel, we are commissioning a full condition survey and restore the boat’s exterior and bring it back for people to see for years to come.
Cllr King said: “The future of the steam tug boat Canning also looks bright. Our discussions with the Steam Boat Trust have also been very positive and we hope they can provide a new home for it.”
He added: “The Seamark has never been owned by the council and after exhaustive efforts to contact its owners, we’ve decided we must act now to remove it.
“The Marina is a much-loved destination and place to live. Removing the Seamark is the right thing to do to protect the waters from pollution and improve the look and feel of the area.”
Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships UK, (NHSUK) an independent advisory body to the UK government and local authorities on historic vessels, said it was pleased about the council’s decision to invest in preserving and protecting the Helwick.
She said: “We are delighted that Swansea Council has decided to invest in the future of Helwick and that Canning is being considered for acquisition by the Steam Boat Trust, which already supports the preservation of two National Historic Fleet tugs.
“Both Helwick and Olga are listed within the National Historic Fleet, some 200 vessels deemed of pre-eminent significance as the best surviving representatives of their type.
“We will work with the Council to try and find a suitable custodian for Olga and stand ready to advise on recording and deconstruction best practices for Seamark if no viable alternative can be found.”
Chris Bannister from the Steam Boat Trust, said: “The Steam Boat Trust is delighted to announce its intention to give the historic steam tug Canning a new lease of life.
“Our plans involve restoring and revitalising her over the next 18 months at her current location, bringing systems and machinery back to working order.
“Following this period of care and attention, Canning may then make her way to the east coast of English to join two sister vessels, becoming part of our growing fleet of preserved steam tugs. We’re excited to begin this new chapter in Canning’s story and to share her progress with the public.”
