E52 Films was commissioned to document the move in August 2019 of the 693 tonne Arctic Corsair, the country’s last distant water side-winder trawler, from its 20-year berth on the River Hull to a temporary berth for the vessel’s preservation.
LGSA Marine and Dean’s Tugs carried out the complex operation to move the trawler down the River Hull during high tide to its new, temporary home provided by Siemens Gamesa with the support of Associated British Ports.
The important move was part of the Environment Agency’s £60m River Hull flood defence scheme and is part of the ambitious £27m Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project. After preservation work she will then set sail to her final berth at a refurbished dry-dock at the North End Shipyard, off Dock Office Row.
Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration, Planning, Land and Property, said: “This is the first step in an exciting journey for the Arctic Corsair as we continue to develop plans for the ambitious maritime project.
“She is a genuinely a unique survivor, veteran of the cod wars and representative of the fishing industry she worked in 60 years ago and it is only right we protect and promote her significance for the city, its people and the nation.”
Chris MacKinnon, Marine Logistics Manager at Siemens Gamesa, said: “We are delighted that our river berths are being used to preserve a significant piece of Hull’s history. We would love to see the port usage optimised and have fantastic facilities to support projects such as this.”
E52 Films, utilising several camera crews and drones, captured the trawler as it passed under three bridges, turned towards The Deep and into the River Humber before making her way to her new temporary home.
As Yorkshire’s maritime city, Hull is now developing an extensive redevelopment of its significant historic maritime assets, building upon the legacy of its tenure as the UK City of Culture 2017 in support of its aspiration to create a world class visitor destination.
The Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project explores and celebrates Hull’s remarkable maritime history and heritage and puts that heritage at the heart of a place shaping project that will preserve several significant assets and move Hull forward as a world class visitor destination. A National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £15m in a project of £27M will ensure that Hull’s Maritime History is well preserved and celebrated by everyone.