8th October 2021
The Spurn Lightship will move to a local shipyard for restoration on the morning tide of Tuesday 12 October, subject to suitable weather conditions.
This new date has been arranged following the postponement on Tuesday 5 October, due to strong winds.
Work to move the lightship from Hull Marina will get underway from 8.30am, then subject to river traffic and the weather it will leave Hull Marina around 9.45am and towed to Albert Dock to reach Dunston’s at around 11am.
The lightship will be temporarily berthed at William Wright Dock where it will undergo sympathetic restoration by long-established Hull company Dunston Ship Repairs Limited.
Built in 1927, the ship was moored off Spurn and helped vessels to navigate the approach to the Humber estuary – a welcome and thankful sight for sailors and fishermen after long and tiring trips at sea.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of the Council, said: “The new date has been confirmed and we’re looking forward to seeing the lightship leave Hull Marina for the first time in three decades to receive a programme of restoration.
“Of course, the move is dependent on the weather and we’re very hopeful the move will take place.”
The Arctic Corsair moved to Dunston’s last Wednesday by tugs and is also part of the £30.3m Hull Maritime project, jointly funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Fund. It also includes a major revamp of the Hull Maritime Museum and the Dock Office Chambers as well as a new visitor centre at North End Shipyard.
With increased access, the Spurn Lightship will once again open as a key visitor attraction and visitors can discover its full story and how it guided vessels and pilots to navigate one of the world’s most treacherous waterways, the River Humber. With increased access, the Spurn Lightship is expected to open as a key visitor attraction spring 2023. Visitors will be able to discover its full story and how it guided vessels and pilots to sail across one of the world’s most treacherous waterways, the Humber.
The move is reliant on tide times, river traffic and the weather. Timings can and may change. In the event of adverse weather, the move may be postponed.
