2010 Latest News

(LATEST NEWS FROM THE SHIPYARD FOUND HERE )

Thursday 20th May 2010 - Medway Queen restoration project to receive EU Finance

Medway Queen Preservation Society are pleased to announce that their application to the European Union for funding, under the Interreg IVA 2 Seas initiative, has been approved by the Interreg  Joint Technical Secretariat in Lille.

The Interreg programme was set up to promote cross-border collaboration. Medway Queen Preservation Society have joined forces with Association Tourville, currently building 'Jean Bart', a replica 18th century man-of-war, in Gravelines, France and with De Steenschuit, a training shipyard at Boom, near Antwerp, who are building a replica 19th Century Antarctic exploration ship, the 'New Belgica'. The joint project is called 'Heroes 2C'.

The Medway Queen is currently dismantled and the hull is being rebuilt at Albion Dockyard in Bristol. Once the hull is completed it is planned to tow her back to Medway for fitting out. This work will provide apprenticeship and training opportunities in Medway, and as part of the 'Heroes 2C' programme trainees will have the opportunity to participate in the partner French and Belgian ship-building projects.

Medway Queen Preservation Society is pleased to acknowledge the support of Medway Council in planning this project, also the help provided by the GMB Union in identifying appropriate international partners, and the involvement of Mid-Kent College where trainees are already involved in restoration of components to be installed on the ship at a later date.

Society chairman John Kempton said 'This is wonderful news for the ship and wonderful news for Medway. We look forward to working with our French and Belgian partners to re-create three fantastic  ships that celebrate our joint maritime heritage'
For further information:                              

Brian Goodhew (MQ press officer)          01785 843317
Brian Burton (Project Manager)                                01634 715090