Newsletter - May 2026
It’s midday on the Explorer. The pneumatic chisel outside makes sure everyone knows work is being done. The first drops of rain on the portholes mark the end of our sunny morning. It has been a significant start to the year for the Explorer. From the National Lottery Heritage Fund to the Edinburgh Science Festival our volunteers have been kept busy, with more work on the way!
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
We are delighted to share that in March we were awarded a grant of £157,115 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This will include conservation work, community engagement, and organising the volunteer team. The project is set to last till 31 March 2028 by which point the aim is to have improved the wind and watertight integrity of the Explorer, expanded our community outreach and demonstrated volunteer development and increased public engagement.
To achieve this, we will be working on four main objectives:
The preservation works which include the deck repairs and steel treatment, as well as the preparations for moving the Explorer.
The development of volunteer skills in heritage maintenance and community outreach.
A structured programme for community outreach, including events, roadshows, and international engagement.
Our long-term sustainability as an organisation will be supported through a feasibility study, strengthened governance, and volunteer recruitment.
In the long-term this will help us in preserving and protecting the heritage of the Explorer for future generations, increasing its national recognition, and providing us with a sustainable operational model. We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for assisting in the preservation of heritage like the SS Explorer.
National Historic Ships Grant
In February we were awarded a grant of £800 from the National Historic Ships Small Grants Scheme. This will help us to replace the sacrificial zinc anodes which corrode in place of the hull – vital for safeguarding the ship’s structure and essential to the long-term preservation of the Explorer.
The SS Explorer Preservation Society wishes to express its sincere gratitude to National Historic Ships UK for recognising the importance of this project and for their continued support of maritime heritage across the UK.
Restoration Work
Work on the Explorer continued into the new year. The starboard side waist deck is nearing completion after last year’s work, whilst on the portside the last rotten wood has been removed. The plan is to have the port side finished by the end of this season, which involves the same treatment as the starboard side of derusting and treating the deck with a rust inhibitor before painting over it.
The funding from the heritage lottery fund will allow us to purchase better tools for descaling, the procurement for which is ongoing. Sherwin Williams generously donated primer and paint for the final paint over of the deck. A huge thank you for their support!
PayPal Giving Fund
We have also raised £299 from our Facebook fundraiser for restoring the floor of the Monkey Island. This is vital for preventing any further damage from water ingress in the wheelhouse, radio room, and Captain’s cabin in purchasing aluminium plate, sealants, and coating materials for the job. This will take several months depending on the weather and labour available.
Edinburgh Science Festival
by Beatriz Crespo Gonzalez
From the 4th to the 19th of April, the SS Explorer participated in the Edinburgh Science Festival for the first time. The ESF began 35 years ago as the world’s first public celebration of science and technology as a Festival, and celebrates the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). With this year’s topic of “Going Global” the ESF focussed on highlighting Scotland’s contribution to scientific advances through research, innovation and its extraordinary people, something the Explorer was an integral part of during her time as a Fisheries Research Vessel.
Our volunteers dedicated the weeks prior to the event to cleaning and preparing the vessel for the visitors, whilst our tour guides ran a total of 12 visits over 5 different days. Our event tickets sold out within 2 weeks of going live and we were delighted to welcome 46 new visitors onboard for a tour of the vessel. The publicity generated throughout the festival has resulted in an increased interest by locals and we are currently fully booked on tours for the month of May and most of June. We received great feedback and reviews and look forward to participating again next year!
Creight's Experience Onboard SS Explorer
Creighton Lawrence from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania joined us for a 3-month internship in February, this is his tale:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Edinburgh over the last few months, and the Explorer has been a big part of that. Going into the internship I wasn’t really sure what to expect and was a little nervous, but the other volunteers made me feel welcome and put me right to work. Their enthusiasm and passion were infectious, and I always looked forward to spending time onboard.
Getting to work on a real piece of history was a wonderful experience, especially compared to sitting in a classroom. It made the past feel so much more alive and showed me a completely different way that people interact with and preserve history. These recent months were a great learning experience and gave me a new, more personal perspective on history. I will always feel proud that I was able to help preserve Explorer and cannot wait to come back and visit her one day.”
By Filip Karaivanov
29th May 2026
SS Explorer Preservation Society