Arctic Corsair's final journey edges closer

The Arctic Corsair will move to her final home in August, Hull City Council says.

The ship, which is Hull's last remaining sidewinder trawler, will become a visitor attraction at the newly renovated North End Shipyard in the city centre.

The trawler will travel along the Humber Estuary and up the River Hull, and will require the co-ordinated opening of multiple bridges, as well as precise manoeuvring into the dock, during a narrow high-tide window.

The council said the move was "highly complex" and the exact date would be confirmed on Tuesday 11 August, but would be between Thursday 13 and Monday 17 once tidal patterns, weather forecasts and river conditions had been assessed.

Council leader Mike Ross said: "The Arctic Corsair is one of Hull's most important maritime treasures.

"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."

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.

The Arctic Corsair was built in 1960 and was involved in the Cod Wars conflict with Iceland in the 1970s, ramming an Icelandic gunboat during the dispute.

The trawler has undergone extensive restoration and will form the centrepiece of a new visitor attraction alongside an energy-efficient visitor centre and the restored Scotch Derrick crane.

The council said there had been "significant progress" on dredging about 3,500 cubic metres (4,578 cubic yards) of silt from the dry dock area, and the successful trial installation of a new dock gate at the shipyard.

It is part of a £65m redevelopment of the city's maritime history, which includes the refurbishment of the Maritime Museum, set to open on 8 August.

Eilish McGuinness, chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "The Arctic Corsair is incredibly important to the people of Hull.

"This work is a fantastic celebration of the city's maritime heritage and contributes to the ongoing cultural regeneration of Hull."

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