23rd July 2026
Hull’s last remaining sidewinder trawler, Arctic Corsair, is set to move to her final home at North End Shipyard during an operational window between Thursday 13 and Monday 17 August.
Preparations for the historic move have reached a major milestone, allowing target dates to be confirmed following significant progress on dredging around 3,500m³ of silt from the dry dock area and the successful trial installation of a brand-new dock gate, ready to welcome the iconic trawler.
Due to the highly complex nature of the move, which is dependent on uncontrollable environmental factors, a specific date will be confirmed on Tuesday 11 August, once all conditions have been closely monitored and carefully assessed. This includes tidal patterns, weather forecasts, river conditions, bridge operations, and navigational safety. Timings may still change at short notice to ensure the operation can be carried out safely and successfully.
The Arctic Corsair’s journey involves travel along the Humber Estuary and up the River Hull, requiring the coordinated opening of multiple bridges, as well as precise manoeuvring into the dock, during a narrow high-tide window. In April, a successful trial passage was conducted to test all these elements and the co-ordination required.
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “The Arctic Corsair is one of Hull’s most important maritime treasures and moving her to her final home is a once-in-a-lifetime operation. This window of dates gives us the flexibility we need to choose the safest possible moment, based on real-time conditions, to carry out this move successfully.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "It is wonderful to see this exciting milestone of the Hull Maritime project about to take place and the Arctic Corsair - an incredible beacon of Hull's rich maritime heritage - moving closer to reopening.
“The Arctic Corsair is incredibly important to the people of Hull and we're proud that thanks to National Lottery players we have been able to support the restoration of this amazing historic vessel, ensuring its rich story is preserved and shared with visitors near and far for generations to come. This work is a fantastic celebration of the city’s maritime heritage and contributes to the ongoing cultural regeneration of Hull."
The complex move will see the Arctic Corsair depart from Albert Dock, travel along the Humber Estuary, and then continue up the River Hull to North End Shipyard.
To allow the trawler and accompanying tugs to pass, Millenium Footbridge, Myton Bridge, Scale Lane Footbridge, and Drypool Bridge will all be opened temporarily during the move. The Hull Tidal Surge Barrier is also supporting the operation.
Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are advised to plan their journeys in advance and check for updates, as bridge openings may cause short-term delays while held in the open position for river traffic.
Once the optimum day within the tidal window has been confirmed, advance notice will be shared with full details of any road and footpath closures, bridge openings and viewing opportunities for the public.
The Arctic Corsair has undergone extensive restoration and will be placed into a dry berth at North End Shipyard, where she will form the centrepiece of a new visitor attraction alongside an energy-efficient visitor centre and the restored Scotch Derrick Crane. The project will secure the vessel’s future and enable new, untold stories of Hull’s fishing heritage to be shared with future generations.
Further information, including confirmation of the exact move date and timings, will be issued following final environmental reviews on Tuesday 11 August.
