The team on the SS Explorer are happy to announce that we have been announced as the Regional Flag ship for Scotland East in this years National Historic Ships UK 2020 Flag ship Competition.

The award usually reflects the cruising programme or visitor numbers of each craft. Instead, for the first time, applications were open for ‘virtual flagships’ in recognition of the fact that many historic vessels have had to cease operations, cancel or postpone events through circumstances beyond their control.

Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships UK, commented: “I am delighted that we are able to offer these Awards again as a means of supporting the sector at a time when it needs our help most. The creativity and resilience these vessels have shown in developing new online engagement packages to meet the current situation has been impressive and I look forward to working with them all in the months ahead.”

As a Flagship we are expected to actively promote the role of National Historic Ships UK by sharing social media posts, publicising activities such as the annual Photo Competition, the Excellence in Maritime Heritage and Marsh Volunteer Awards and fly the flag as ambassadors for the UK’s maritime heritage sector.

Allan Dickson, Deputy Chair of SS Explorers Board, remarked “This is the first time the SS Explorer has been able to enter the competition and we are really happy to have been named as a regional flagship. It’s a great piece of recognition for the ship and we are looking forward to working with National Historic Ships UK over the year in promoting the UKs heritage vessels.”

To find out more about the SS Explorer check out our website at https://ssexplorer.org/

National Historic Ships UK advises the Department of Culture, Media & Sport and a range of grant giving organisations on priorities for ship conservation and is the official voice for historic vessels in the UK. It maintains the National Register of Historic Vessels, which lists over a thousand significant historic vessels: www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/registers