Our objectives are to:

- encourage awareness and understanding of the through-life costs of conserving, restoring and maintaining historic vessels;

- make available to the public research into ship preservation and conservation techniques and provide a directory of skills and services;

- promote the availability and standards of ship and boat conservation skills and training, and share experience and expertise across the sector, particularly through establishing a number of centres of excellence;

- develop and promote professional standards of good practice for the conservation and restoration of historic vessels;

- raise awareness among trusts and owners about good practice and fund-raising opportunities;

- provide guidance to trusts and owners about business planning and interpretation to make ships become more self-sustaining and attractive to new audiences;

- advise on documentation and recording techniques in cases where vessels are beyond physical and economic preservation;

- promote the case for historic ships to a wider audience and monitor practice in other countries.