Newsletter - February 2026
Our latest newsletter gives an update on
Public berth for Explorer
Fundraising
Website and Social Media
Digital Fundraising
Christmas party
Outreach projects
Visitor tour team
SS Explorer’s Community Outreach Worker at the UK Maritime Heritage Forum
SS Explorer Crew visit Trinity House Leith
2025: A Year in Review
Despite our unsuccessful National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) application, 2025 was a pretty good year. We managed to meet all our obligations and the steady stream of donations generated from visitors and other supporters means we can support ourselves while we continue fundraising for routine and major works onboard.
A Public Berth for Explorer
Forth Ports’ planning application for ‘The Drydock’ project, which was submitted at the end of 2024, received approval from the Planning department in mid-September. In early October, we received a letter from Forth Ports confirming that they would make a publicly accessible berth available for Explorer within the development. The exact location will depend on the Port’s requirements, but they have suggested that the Southeastern wall of the Edinburgh Dock, just north of the graving dock, may be suitable.
Fundraising
FWe submitted a revised application to NLHF at the end of November and hope to have a response during February. This covers a new programme of restoration works including wind and water stabilisation works and refurbishing decklights; preparation for moving the vessel to a new berth; finalising major works and Drydock plans; an expanded programme of community outreach in Leith and surrounding areas; an international outreach programme to ports and communities connected to Explorer’s service history; and a study of the feasibility of our long term vision for the vessel as a floating museum with a shore-based interpretation centre.
We have just been awarded a grant of £800 under the National Historic Ships UK small grants programme. This funding will be utilised to replace the sacrificial zinc anodes - a vital part of regular maintenance - safeguarding the ship’s structure against the damaging effects of corrosion caused by seawater. Maintaining the integrity of the hull is essential to the long-term preservation of the SS Explorer, one of the nation’s most significant maritime heritage vessels.
Website and Social Media
We hope you’ve noticed the changes to our website and the new activity on our social media channels. We’d like to express thanks to our Digital Marketing Coordinator and to our Social Media Content Creator, for maintaining and updating the website and for posting such engaging updates on Facebook and Instagram.
Digital Fundraising
We qualified for a Google Ad Grant and signed up for the PayPal Giving Fund. Since starting in September, we’ve been generating more awareness through the free non-profit ads. Thanks to everyone who has clicked through our Google and other online ads!
Christmas Party
6 December may have been a little early for Christmas but that was the most suitable date for all our volunteers who enjoyed dinner on board the vessel. Thanks to all those who did the organising – in particular Jim for preparing the Christmas dinner – and to everyone for coming along to enjoy the party, which reportedly continued at a local pub later.
Outreach Project
As a result of Beatriz's efforts during 2025, we are involved in a couple of interesting outreach projects:
FORTH 20 is a project organised by the Centre for Scottish Studies at Stirling University to study the impact of water quality on the communities of the Forth River Basin. We will be one of their community partners alongside Largo, Fisherrow and a number of other organisations.
Edinburgh ScienceFest – we will be taking part in the ScienceFest between 4th and 19th April – more details will be published when available.
Arcadia – We have just welcomed our first intern from Arcadia University – Creighton Lawrence who will be working with us for a couple of days a week over the next few months.
Meet Our Intern: Creight Lawrence
Hey, y’all! My name is Creight Lawrence and I’ll be interning with the SS Explorer Preservation Society over the next few months. I’m from Columbus, Georgia, United States, which is where Coca-Cola was developed. I attend Furman University in the neighbouring state of South Carolina, where I study history, mostly of the U.S. Civil War, and plan to go to law school after I graduate. Outside of class, I am an avid reader and enjoy spending time outside. I also love music and play bass in a rock band and mandolin in a bluegrass band.
I have only been to Explorer a few times but have quickly become completely enamoured with her. Historical preservation is a general passion of mine, and I am excited to help preserve such a fascinating ship for future generations. In addition to hands-on restoration work, I will also be doing some research into Explorer’s history. Maritime history is an important, though often underrepresented, aspect of the past, and I look forward to helping preserve such an interesting part of it.
Pictured: Creight’s first tour of Explorer with tour guides Jim and Scott.
Visitor Tour Team
Huge thanks to Scott and Jim and the other tour volunteers who welcomed a total of 242 visitors over 66 tours last year with £1236 in cash donations and a similar amount of online donations. Well done to everyone concerned.
SS Explorer’s Community Outreach Worker at the UK Maritime Heritage Forum
by Beatriz Crespo Gonzalez
I was delighted to attend this year’s UK Maritime Heritage Forum representing the SS Explorer Preservation Society as the Community Outreach Worker. The Forum was not only a great opportunity to connect with other vessels and museums from around the UK but also learn and discuss with experts in various areas of maritime heritage.
This year the forum was hosted by National Museums Scotland, which cares for over 12 million objects and specimens in four museums and the National Museums Collection Centre. Attendees also had the option to choose between two different study visits, Royal Yacht Britannia or Trinity House Leith, with the conference dinner hosted onboard floating luxury hotel Fingal.
Presentations and posters covered new and emerging challenges in maritime heritage, such as “sea blindness” and its effects, and the loss of heritage and traditional skills. It was inspiring to hear from other Scottish ships and neighbours of Explorer, including Discovery and Unicorn from Dundee and Glenlee from Glasgow.
The Forum was a great opportunity to introduce the SS Explorer to those that had not heard of her before, and hopefully the Society will be able to attend again next year to continue learning and connecting the wider maritime heritage in the UK.
Please check out our social media channels for more pictures and updates on the SS Explorer!
SS Explorer Crew visit Trinity House Leith
In November 2025, our volunteers were invited to visit Trinity House in Leith, following their team’s visit to our ship. Not far from where Explorer is berthed, the crew enjoyed learning about Leith’s maritime history through the House’s extensive collection of artefacts and our guide’s knowledge.
Trinity House was originally established as the headquarters for the Incorporation of Mariners and Shipmasters, a charity set up to support the needs of injured and retired seamen and their families, that traces its origins back to 1380. The house is now under the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is open to visits 1 April to 30 September.
Maddy and Liz guided us around the house, sharing the stories and details of many of the treasures on display and answering all questions. Volunteers were particularly impressed with the collection of ship models and paintings as well as navigation instruments, sparking interesting questions and discussions. We strongly encourage anyone interested in maritime history to visit Trinity House and keep an eye out for the whale eardrum!
Thank you to Trinity House and Maddy and Liz for having us. We look forward to more visits and engagement in the future!
If you would like to see more pictures of our visit, please head to our social media channels!
SS Explorer Preservation Society
February 2026
