New projections, film, immersive sound and new graphics will tell the story of Hull’s historic Spurn Lightship when the vessel re-opens as a floating museum this spring.
Specialist contractors are now installing new technology and displays as the final stages of a major restoration begin, with the new-look ship set to open after closing to the public in 2018.
Giving a first glimpse of Hull’s future as a world-class ‘Maritime City’ destination, it will be the first of a host of new attractions to open as part of Hull Maritime, a £30.3m project to celebrate 800 years of seafaring history.
Once the project is fully completed, which is expected to be late 2025, visitors will be able to chart a course through Hull, exploring its contributions to the UK and the world.
A Hull landmark since opening as a floating museum in 1986, the lightship – which guided vessels as they navigated the Humber estuary, one of the world’s most treacherous waterways – moved for the first time in 35 years for refurbishment in October 2021 before returning to a temporary berth Marina in 2023.
Now moored at its newly built, permanent site near Murdoch’s Connection pedestrian footbridge, which links the Marina to the city centre, the attraction will have a new lease of life, bringing the ship’s story to life.
New displays will showcase the history, the stories of navigating the treacherous estuary and what it was like to live and work on board.
Award-winning museum and heritage fit-out contractor, Marcon – which has worked on high-profile projects including HMS Victory and Titanic Belfast Gallery – is currently installing a range of media and interpretation, with the new displays complementing original features.
The Spurn Lightship is due to open to visitors in its new location in late spring/early summer.
Hull’s other nationally important ship, the city’s last remaining sidewinder trawler the Arctic Corsair, will set sail for her final berth at a new £3.8m visitor attraction in the former North End Shipyard in the Old Town, due to open early 2025. Showcasing the trawler’s dramatic story, the new attraction will include a state-of-the-art ‘Passivhaus’ building, making it one of the most energy efficient in the UK’s cultural and heritage sector.
Among other new-look attractions as part of the five-year Hull Maritime project, which is funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be Hull’s Maritime Museum, housed in Hull’s Grade 2* listed Dock Offices built in 1871.
It closed its doors in 2019 for a £12m refurbishment and is due to re-open in early 2025 with more of its Victorian architecture revealed, new galleries, improved visitor facilities and, for the first time, access to one of the building’s distinctive domes offering panoramic rooftop views across the city.
For more information visit maritimehull.co.uk
For all other tourism information about Hull, see www.visithull.org
Photo: Hull City Council and Octovision Media