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24th October 2019

A Virtual Reality model of the bridge of the Arctic Corsair, the country’s last surviving distant-water sidewinder trawler, is now complete.

This extraordinarily detailed recreation of one of the most beloved pieces of Hull’s maritime heritage has been the work of four students studying Games Design at Hull College and Hull-based design agency GridSnap.

Using blueprints, photographs and even drone footage of the Arctic Corsair, the students and Gridsnap have created a Virtual Reality experience that will make its users feel like they are actually standing on the ship: from the glint of light off the ship’s bell to the slight weathering to some of the instruments, all of the detail is there.


Charlie, Community and School Learning Officer has a sneak peek at the completed VR experience produced by Hull College students

Lucy Francis, Director of Faculty: Arts and Creative Industries at Hull College, said: “This project was such a challenging but rewarding piece of work for our Games students and to see the work come to life and be utilised by the Trust will be an amazing experience for them.’’

James Howe, who was one of the students leading on the project, said: “This was a really interesting project to take on as a second year student, as it allowed us to research the history of the Corsair and lead us to some very fascinating stories from the fishing heritage of the city. I’m very proud to have been a part of the production of this work.”

A detailed VR experience of the Arctic Corsair
The VR experience will feel like you're actually standing on the ship
All the important instruments and objects have been included.
Blueprints, photographs and drone footage of the Arctic Corsair have been used to create the VR model
From the glint of light off the ship’s bell to the slight weathering to some of the instruments, all of the detail is there.

Paul Starkey, Owner and Creative Director at Gridsnap added: “Myself and creative partner Kyle Agnew took what was produced by the students at The Hull School of Art and Design and built up from this to produce what you see now. Utilising advanced software enabled us to not only produce the bridge environment’s realistic aesthetic but additionally, we were able to output this in Virtual Reality with interactive elements to really help push the realism and immersive experience.

“The final product allows for a wider audience to participate and engage with Hull’s rich heritage through the use of a Virtual Reality headset, which is still a relatively new technology. This makes it more appealing for today’s younger minds and additionally offers those who may be unable to access the ship, the chance to experience what was previously inaccessible.

“We have had great fun working on this project and hope that you all have great fun and learn a little while being immersed in this digital world.”

Community and Schools Learning Officer, Charlie Trzeciak, said: "One of the ambitions for the project is to improve skills and engage with young people and we are thrilled to have been able to do this in partnership with Hull College and GridSnap. This Virtual Reality model will allow people to experience the story of the Arctic Corsair in an immersive way, even while the ship itself is closed for renovation. We are very excited about taking the model out to community groups and local schools as part of the project’s outreach programme over the coming months.”

For more information on the ambitious Maritime Hull project visit maritimehull.co.uk