Date: Monday 9th February 2026
Twelve historic vessels have been awarded grants from National Historic Ships UK's Small Grants Scheme.
The Small Grants Scheme gives grants of up to £1,000 to vessels on the National Registers for Conservation management planning; Surveys; and Remedial works demanding specialist and/ or expensive materials. Our guidance manual Conserving Historic Vessels sets out the approaches we expect to see owners and custodians adopting in maintaining and conserving our maritime heritage.
The Small Grants Scheme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as well as from our Historic Ships Insurance scheme with Winter & Co (Marine) Ltd. The Historic Vessel Policies are specially designed, and exclusively for, vessels on the Registers. For each new policy bought or renewed, a percentage will be donated to our Small Grants Scheme, so that money goes back into helping historic vessel owners like you.
The NHS-UK Small Grants Scheme is always oversubscribed, and the Panel has to make some difficult decisions about what we can fund with the money available. This year, we received 29 applications and awarded 12 grants.
The following vessels were supported by Winter & Co (Marine) Ltd:
Addie (1915 Harbour/ Coastal Tug, London) - £600 towards repairs to steel deck
ST Challenge (1931 Ocean-Going Tug, Chatham National Historic Fleet) - £1,000 towards replacement of steam pipework
Espanola (1902 Pleasure Yacht, Preston) - £500 towards an out of water survey
ss Explorer (1955 Fishery Research Vessel, Leith) - £800 towards replacement anodes
Henry Frederick Swan (1918 Self Righter Class Lifeboat, Newcastle) - £1,000 towards timber for deck and fender replacement
Ironsides (1900 Spritsail Barge, Faversham National Historic Fleet) - £500 towards two new gear wheels for the crab winches
Kitty (1899 Spritsail Barge, Lower Halstow) - £900 towards deck recaulking
Massey Shaw (1935 Fireboat, London National Historic Fleet) - £700 towards a new valve spindle for the starboard fire pump
Peel Castle (1929 Lugger, Porth Penryn) - £1,000 towards two new Douglas Fir masts
Ross Revenge (1960 Grimsby Side Trawler, River Blackwater) - £600 towards MCA loadline inspection
Sea Scamp (1936 Racing Yacht, Southampton) - £1,000 towards replacement of 90 year old mast
The following vessel was supported by National Historic Ships UK:
HMS Cavalier (1943 CA Class Destroyer, Chatham National Historic Fleet) - £500 towards purchase of specialist marine protective coatings
Congratulations to all of our Awardees!
