See ships, boats and visiting vessels at Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival

Go on board one of the world's largest remaining wooden tall ships, Kaskelot, the unusual yet historic George Stephenson or the last steam drifter, The Lydia Eva.

Kaskelot

One of the world’s largest remaining wooden tall ships is set to sail into Great Yarmouth’s South Quay. Kaskelot, a Danish three-masted barque will be visiting this year’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival on September 9th and 10th.

It will be the first time the vessel has ventured to the celebrated event, but she is no stranger to the limelight having played a pivotal role in the Poldark television series and a number of Hollywood movies.

Kaskelot was originally a traditional Baltic trader built in 1948 by J Ring-Andersen at one of the world’s most reputable shipyards –the Royal Greenland Trading Company at Svendborg, in Denmark.

During the weekend visitors will be able to chat with the crew and a mini museum in the cargo will feature the tools used in the building and maintenance of traditional ships. There will also be an opportunity to learn knots and, wind permitting, the chance to haul lines and set sails under the supervision of the crew.

Go aboard and see the ship and the museum.
Adults £4, Children (5-16) £3

George Stephenson

Come aboard a fascinating steam ship. The brain child of Dutchman, Sveratius Strik, this is an extrememly unusual, brand new (2014) yet very historic steam ship.

There is no new wood on board this ship - every plank that you see has been salvaged or recycled from somewhere else along with everything else that you see on board!

There are also two engine rooms - the steam engine was made in Great Yarmouth.

Come aboard! Adults £3, Children (5-16) £2

BREAKING NEWS!

MV Triton

Visitors can also go aboard the trimaran Triton. The Triton, the world’s largest motor-powered trimaran at 97m (318ft) long and now a research vessel owned by local company and festival sponsor Gardline Marine Sciences, but which began life in 2000 as a £13.5m prototype technology test bed for new hull forms and defence systems.

She was sold to Gardline in 2005 for hydrographic survey work for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and has also been contracted to the other side of the world patrolling for the Australian Border Force’s Marine Unit armed with two heavy machine guns.

Visitors who wish to go aboard will join a 10 minute tour, leaving approx every 10 minutes from the quay. Visitors must buy a joint ticket, have their hand stamped and agree to abide by the ships terms and conditions.
No children under the age of 4 will be allowed on board and suitable footwear must be worn - no high heels or flip flops will be permitted, neither will bulky bags or rucksacks.

Go on board THREE ships with a joint ticket

Adults £5.50, Children (5-16) £4 - Buy a joint ticket to go on board the Kaskelot, the George Stephenson and the MV Triton

Please note, if you are coming to the festival in a wheelchair, we recommend that you use the Middle Gate opposite Nottingham Way or the South Gate to enter the Maritime Festival. Historic South Quay features a lengthy stretch of cobblestones shortly after the entrance at North Gate which can be a little bit tricky and somewhat uncomfortable for some wheelchair users to navigate. There is unfortunately no wheelchair access to any of the ships.

CPV Alert

Part of the Border Force Maritime fleet, Alert is one of 4 Coastal Patrol vessels operating 365 days a year around the UK, brought into service to further enhance the protection of the UK coastline.

Alert is just under 20 metres in length, has a top speed of 35 knots (40 mph) and endurance of 250 nautical miles at this speed.

The vessel has crew bunks, toilet, shower and cooking facilities to ensure the boat and its crew of 5 Border Force Marine Enforcement officers are self sufficient for extended patrols.

Alert's main mission will be to operate and protect the east coast of the UK. Since coming into service, Alert and her crew have already detected and prevented 12 illegal entries into the UK.

MTB102

MTB stands for motor torpedo boat. Motor Torpedo Boats were designed to be able to mount a quick response to threats from any other seagoing vessel whether a warship or a submarine.

This particular MTB was launched in 1937 and saw active service during the Second World War from 1939 to 1940 mainly in the English Channel.

Kelso Films refurbished the MTB102 to be a WWII MTB for their 1976 film, 'The Eagle has landed' which starred Michael Caine.

The Lydia Eva

Built in King's Lynn in 1930 and based in Great Yarmouth, Lydia Eva fished for Silver Darlings along the East Coast and North Sea for nine years until herring stocks declined!

The Royal Air Force brought her in 1939, using her in a variety of roles including salvage during the Second World War until she was laid up in 1969.
She was bought by the Maritime Trust in 1971/2 and restored as a floating museum in Great Yarmouth.

The Lydia Eva Charitable Trust Ltd was formed and opened as a museum. The Trust leases the ship and shares her between the ports of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Go onboard at the festival! Adults £2, children FREE - no unaccompanied children.

Samarbeta

The RNLI at Great Yarmouth & Gorleston have two lifeboats, one of which is the seagoing vessel, the Samarbeta, an all-weather Trent Class lifeboat.

Samarbeta is a swedish word which means 'working together'.

Laura Moncur Lifeboat

The recently restored Watson 10 lifeboat worked as the RNLI Buckie lifeboat from 1960 to 1984 then served as a relief boat until 1998, saving 47 lives.