🌊 One Day Family Escape in Dunkirk! 🚢🎄
Looking for the perfect family getaway? Spend a day in Dunkirk exploring historic ships, discovering the charming port, and enjoying festive surprises like Santa’s Castle!

https://jason-edwards.fr/dunkirk-family-travel-guide/
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Historic Clyde-built ship 'Falls of Clyde' deliberately sunk off Hawaii coast amid failed restoration efforts

The Falls of Clyde, a historic sailing ship built in 1878 in Port Glasgow, Scotland, was towed out to sea and deliberately sunk about 25 miles off the coast of Hawaii, sparking outrage among maritime preservation groups. The ship had been moored as a museum ship in Honolulu since the 1960s but deter... [More info]

£450k plan to restore Swansea Marina’s Helwick lightship

Swansea Council will ask Cabinet next week to approve funding to repair and restore the Helwick lightship, the red‑and‑white vessel moored in Swansea Marina since the late 1970s. The work would take place at a local dry dock before the ship returns to its berth as part of the city’s maritime heritage.

Historic vessels to be preserved

The Helwick is one of three council‑owned vessels earmarked for protection. The others are the steam tug Canning, built in 1954, and the pilot cutter Olga, dating from 1909.

The council also plans to remove the Seamark, an abandoned vessel left in the marina for more than a decade, which is now considered a pollution risk.

Council says Helwick is “iconic”

Cllr Elliot King, Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equality, said:

“The Helwick is such an iconic feature of the marina and has been with us for a long time. We’re really pleased to have come up with a viable proposal that will see the vessel repaired for future generations to enjoy.”

He added that the council had drawn on expertise from historic ship specialists across the UK to shape the plan.

Steam Boat Trust to take on Canning

Talks are under way with the Steam Boat Trust to take on the Canning. The Trust has announced plans to restore the vessel over the next 18 months before potentially moving it to join its preserved fleet in Rochester.

Chris Bannister, Steam Boat Trust, said:

“Our plans involve restoring and revitalising her over the next 18 months at her current location, bringing systems and machinery back to working order.”

National recognition for Helwick and Olga

Both the Helwick and Olga are listed in the National Historic Fleet, which recognises around 200 vessels of pre‑eminent significance.

Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships UK, welcomed the council’s decision:

“We are delighted that Swansea Council has decided to invest in the future of Helwick and that Canning is being considered for acquisition by the Steam Boat Trust.”

What happens next

Cabinet will discuss the proposals next week. If approved, the Helwick will undergo a full condition survey before being restored and returned to the marina. It will remain a static exhibit, not open to the public to board.

The removal of the Seamark is expected to improve the look of the marina and free up berths for other vessels.

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Swansea revealed as one of the most cruise holiday obsessed cities in the UK
New research shows Swansea ranks among the UK’s top cities for cruise holiday interest, reflecting strong demand for sea travel.

New Swansea to South West England ferry service consultation opens
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Community volunteers fish out Tawe waste to support river sailings
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The USS Constitution sits docked in Boston Harbor, its masts rising against moody clouds.

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Sailing Back in Time: The Galeón Andalucía Visits Ireland

The sun had set by the time I got into the city to photograph the Andalucía. Twenty minutes earlier, the sun was shining on it and made for a spectacular photo.

I made a bracketed shot from further down the quay because there were bright lights on the front of the boat that would make a shot from that side difficult. I like this shot anyway, as it captures the old with the new. The buildings at the quayside are old, the ship is a replica of an old ship and other buildings nearby are new and modern.

I did take some more photos. A rather drunk man asked me to take a photo of him with the ship, using his phone. A few minutes later, he asked me to photograph him in front of Penrose House here and then went off home.

So, I discovered that the Galeón Andalucía is not just a static museum piece. It is the only replica of a 16th-17th century Spanish galleon in the world that actively sails today, having travelled over 80,000 miles and visited ports on four continents since its launch in 2009.

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