The SS Great Britain is a cultural icon of Bristol, British engineering and global migration. Salvaged in 1970, Brunel’s original iron ship draws visitors from across the world, requiring continuing complex conservation to continue inspiring thousands as a true engineering and heritage marvel.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
The SS Great Britain is an icon under threat; ongoing salt-induced rusting from its time at sea endangers the original iron hull. Without our world-first conservation system, the ship would become structurally unsafe within 20 years. Despite award-winning sustainability and energy efficiency improvements, a 70% increase in costs to run this unique system threaten our vital conservation work. We rely on supporters’ generosity to preserve this crucial artefact and support our other charitable work
Solution
The ship is sealed with glass plate at the waterline, beneath which a world-first engineering system protects the ship’s original iron from further corrosion. Overseen by our Ship’s Conservation Engineer; specialist sensors, dehumidifiers and software run constantly ensuring optimum conditions to protect the hull. Support to keep this unique system running allows us to continue refining and optimising our conservation efforts, securing a longer future for this precious piece of cultural heritage
