Britain to build ‘yacht for the nation’
Prime Minister David Cameron has backed the building of a 198m yacht 'for the British nation', as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The yacht is seen as a chance to celebrate British yacht building and design and reinstate its importance in rebuilding an ailing economy.…
A 198m yacht has been designed and will be built for the British nation. The revelation came in the wake of a leaked letter to Prime Minister, David Cameron from education secretary, Michael Gove backing the build of a “royal yacht.” Cameron has since voiced his “full support” with the addendum that it will not be funded by the government.
Certain media attention in the UK has focused on the fact the yacht will be for royal use (and to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012), as a replacement for the royal yacht, Britannia, decommissioned in 1997. Others, in the typically British sensationalist way the tabloids react to any story with the word 'yacht' in it, have criticised spending money in an economic downturn. However, the vessel's designer and the charity backing the project have stated to SuperyachtNews.com that she will be "for the nation", dismissing the term "royal yacht" as misleading.
Indeed, the yacht will be of practical use and inspiration for Britain, as young people will be amongst the prime beneficiaries.
Rear Admiral David Bawtree, chairman of the FSP21 consortium, the educational charity for young people in Britain behind the yacht’s design and build explained the plans.
“She is designed for young people and oceanographic and environmental research as well as to accommodate the head of state.”
Bawtree continued, “There will be around 220 places for young people to undertake three-month long training voyages on board where they learn how to sail and run a ship. As well as this there will be academic and vocational lessons across all subjects of the curriculum.”
Design of the 198m yacht by Colin Mudie naval architects
Crucially, the ‘yacht for the nation’ is recognised as a chance to celebrate British yacht building and design and the importance of its contribution to rebuilding an ailing economy. The superyacht industry in the UK is excelling, with Britain leading the list of award winners at 2011’s design awards, but its importance has been overlooked in the past years by the government. Toby Allies at Pendennis thinks the educational focus of the yacht and its endorsement by Cameron is a positive sign.
“Manufacturing is a key area of the UK economy that could help bring the UK out of the recession.
“Encouraging young people to get practical skills in manufacturing is often overlooked. It’s now a focal point of the current government, but we’ve been doing it (providing young people with training, via our apprenticeship scheme) for over 12 years.”
Allies' comments hint at other nascent signs of support from the government for the UK's yacht industry. Last year a proportion of its £1.4bn growth fund to encourage enterprise and jobs was awarded to Princess yachts in Plymouth.
The designer of the ‘yacht for the nation’ is Colin Mudie, of Colin Mudie naval artchitects in Lymington, UK. Mudie has confirmed designs are for a 198m yacht and has released plans (pictured). The builder has not been confirmed as yet.
Funding for the project is being privately sourced. Today, Conservative member Lord Ashcroft pledged £5million towards the yacht.
A report of the UK superyacht industry's impact is in The Superyacht Group’s forthcoming Economic Analysis of the Superyacht Industry. A global analysis of each country's impact is featured.
Related Links
Pendennis Profile | Pendennis Website
Princess Yachts Profile | Princess Yachts Website
The Superyacht Owner magazine
Certain media attention in the UK has focused on the fact the yacht will be for royal use (and to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012), as a replacement for the royal yacht, Britannia, decommissioned in 1997. Others, in the typically British sensationalist way the tabloids react to any story with the word 'yacht' in it, have criticised spending money in an economic downturn. However, the vessel's designer and the charity backing the project have stated to SuperyachtNews.com that she will be "for the nation", dismissing the term "royal yacht" as misleading.
Indeed, the yacht will be of practical use and inspiration for Britain, as young people will be amongst the prime beneficiaries.
Rear Admiral David Bawtree, chairman of the FSP21 consortium, the educational charity for young people in Britain behind the yacht’s design and build explained the plans.
“She is designed for young people and oceanographic and environmental research as well as to accommodate the head of state.”
Bawtree continued, “There will be around 220 places for young people to undertake three-month long training voyages on board where they learn how to sail and run a ship. As well as this there will be academic and vocational lessons across all subjects of the curriculum.”
Design of the 198m yacht by Colin Mudie naval architects
Crucially, the ‘yacht for the nation’ is recognised as a chance to celebrate British yacht building and design and the importance of its contribution to rebuilding an ailing economy. The superyacht industry in the UK is excelling, with Britain leading the list of award winners at 2011’s design awards, but its importance has been overlooked in the past years by the government. Toby Allies at Pendennis thinks the educational focus of the yacht and its endorsement by Cameron is a positive sign.
“Manufacturing is a key area of the UK economy that could help bring the UK out of the recession.
“Encouraging young people to get practical skills in manufacturing is often overlooked. It’s now a focal point of the current government, but we’ve been doing it (providing young people with training, via our apprenticeship scheme) for over 12 years.”
Allies' comments hint at other nascent signs of support from the government for the UK's yacht industry. Last year a proportion of its £1.4bn growth fund to encourage enterprise and jobs was awarded to Princess yachts in Plymouth.
The designer of the ‘yacht for the nation’ is Colin Mudie, of Colin Mudie naval artchitects in Lymington, UK. Mudie has confirmed designs are for a 198m yacht and has released plans (pictured). The builder has not been confirmed as yet.
Funding for the project is being privately sourced. Today, Conservative member Lord Ashcroft pledged £5million towards the yacht.
A report of the UK superyacht industry's impact is in The Superyacht Group’s forthcoming Economic Analysis of the Superyacht Industry. A global analysis of each country's impact is featured.
Related Links
Pendennis Profile | Pendennis Website
Princess Yachts Profile | Princess Yachts Website
The Superyacht Owner magazine
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