National Historic Ships Announces Its 2025 Flagships

National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) has announced its flagships of 2025, encompassing four distinct vessels that will ‘fly the flag’ for UK maritime heritage. 

Running since 2009, the National Historic Ships UK’s annual Flagship Awards provide an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public. The flagships will also promote the role of NHS-UK by publicising the organisation’s annual photo competition and its Excellence in Maritime Conservation and Marsh Volunteer Awards.

NHS-UK will work closely with each flagship to promote the vessel and offer support and advice.

Each of the 2025 flagships will receive a special broad pennant to fly at the masthead and a brass plaque. The flagships will also hold flag-hoisting ceremonies during May and June to support their new status. 

The four flagships for 2025 are as follows. 

Barnabas

Built in 1881 as a dipping lug-rigged pilchard driver, Barnabas fished until 1954 when it was sold and converted to a yacht. The vessel was subsequently purchased by the Cornish Maritime Trust in 1994 and underwent a complete restoration. Barnabas was eventually relaunched in July 2006. 

Since its relaunch, Barnabas has taken part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant, attended traditional festivals in Cornwall and Brittany and completed a round-Britain circumnavigation. 

Barnabas has been appointed as a flagship 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’. 

Sir Walter Scott

Named after the famous Scottish writer, the SS Sir Walter Scott has been sailing the inland waters of Loch Katrine since 1900.

The original owners were two local hoteliers who formed the Loch Katrine Steamboat Co. Then, from 1952-2005, the Sir Walter Scott was owned by the Water Department of the City of Glasgow Corporation. 

The vessel was later fully restored, with her coal-fired boilers being replaced by biofuel boilers in 2008. Today, the Sir Walter Scott continues to operate as a pleasure steamer on Loch Katrine under the stewardship of The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust. 

Sir Walter Scott has been awarded flagship status ‘in recognition of plans to celebrate her 125th anniversary year by hosting a Steamboat Festival with accompanying activity, in addition to Christmas events and three sailings per day from March to October’. 

Llanthony

Built originally for a Labour Member of Parliament in 1934, Llanthony is a motor yacht which can also boast the distinction of having been owned by Lord Astor. 

Llanthony also took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, rescuing 280 troops from the beaches whilst under heavy fire. The boat was badly damaged and five crew members killed. Furthermore, her commander, Sub Lieutenant Robert Trimbell of the Royal Canadian Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. 

Following the war, Llanthony returned to private ownership and was the subject of a full restoration by Dennetts Boatyard.

Llanthony has been awarded flagship status ‘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’. 

Dane

Built in 1947 by the Mersey Weaver Ship and Canal Carrying Company, Dane navigated the Trent & Mersey waterways until 1957. During this period, Dane would transport clay from Liverpool to potteries, returning with finished crates of pottery for onward shipping across the world. 

In 2012, Dane was purchased by the Narrow Boat Heritage Foundation and underwent a major restoration. Following this Dane was gifted to Re-Form Heritage where it is now based at their Middleport Pottery heritage site. 

Dane has been awarded flagship status ‘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’.

Brookes Bell: a maritime consultancy with heritage

Brookes Bell has been supporting the maritime industry since 1903, and continues to do so today. 

Offering a truly diverse range of services thanks to our multidisciplinary team, Brookes Bell has supported a variety of heritage projects, most notably the restoration of the TS Queen Mary.

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