The Arctic Corsair is Hull’s ‘Cutty Sark’: a nationally significant vessel representing the end of a once major industry. Built in Beverley in 1960 for the Boyd Line, the Arctic Corsair had a career that included a world-record catch and conflict and collision in the Cod Wars.
The trawler was moved to her berth on the River Hull next to the Streetlife Museum in 1998.
The Arctic Corsair was originally rescued for the nation by Hull City Council and subsequently a lengthy programme of repairs was carried out when the vessel was berthed at Albert Dock. Now owned and run by Hull City Council and Hull Culture and Leisure, in partnership with local fishing heritage group STAND, the Arctic Corsair is a key part of the nation’s maritime heritage. She is now the only distant-water sidewinder trawler consistently accessible as a floating attraction and open to the public in the country.
This ship is a symbol of our trawling past within living memory, and more significantly of the thousands of men and boys from the city who never made it home during Hull’s active fishing industry.
At sixty years old following a life in the extreme waters of the Atlantic, the Arctic Corsair will sail into its final, dry-berth at the North End Shipyard, off Dock Office Row.
Did you know?
- The Arctic Corsair is the sole survivor of Hull’s distant-water, sidewinder fishing fleet and weighs 693 tonnes
- In 1973, the Arctic Corsair broke the world record for landing the greatest weight of Cod and Haddock from the White Sea
- In 1976, the Arctic Corsair rammed the Icelandic Coastguard vessel and gunboat Odinn as part of the Cod Wars conflict. In 2017 both vessels which survive as heritage ships exchanged bells in a gesture of reconciliation
- The Arctic Corsair was one of the last distant-water, sidewinder trawlers to sail from the UK and is now the only distant-water sidewinder trawler consistently accessible to the public in this country
- Travelling to the distant water grounds involved a 2,000 mile round trip to Iceland or a 2,700 mile round trip to Bear Island. The Arctic Corsair even made 5,000 mile round trips to Newfoundland Grand Banks
AS PART OF THIS PROJECT THE ARCTIC CORSAIR WILL:
- be relocated in a new dry-berth
- be fully restored
- raise awareness of her national significance
- have improved interpretation
- offer increased visitor access
- offer increased volunteering and learning opportunities
Most importantly, be saved for generations to come.
The Arctic Corsair moved from its current location for the first time in 20 years on Sunday 4 August 2019 to allow for flood prevention works along the River Hull. It is currently being restored by Dunston's Ship Repairs in Hull.
The Arctic Corsair is expected to open to visitors at North End Shipyard in early 2025.
