Vessels
As an important port, Hull has seen a vast array of different vessels pass through its docks from massive sailing ships to small fishing boats. Hull museums collections are filled with objects illustrating the city's relationship with shipping and in fact, two of our nine venues, the Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Lightship, are vessels! Explore this section of our website to find out more.
Life on-board the Spurn Lightship
Discover how the men aboard the Spurn Lightship went about their daily lives. Learn about their duties and how they spent their spare time on the long days aboard the ship.
The Spurn Lightship and WW2
Read about how at the outbreak of World War Two the Spurn Lightship was forced to observe new rules for the safety of themselves and for the security of the country.
Takarabune and Seven Lucky Gods of Japan (part 1)
The Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) are a group of deities from Japan, China and India and the Fortune ship carries them to bring good luck to beleivers in the New Year. Read on to find out more about these deities.
Takarabune and Seven Lucky Gods of Japan (part 2)
The Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin) are a group of deities from Japan, China and India and the Fortune ship carries them to bring good luck to beleivers in the New Year. Read on to find out more about these deities.
Lightships and the Humber
The constant movement of tides, shift seas and sand banks increases the hazards of shipping dramatically and has always been a problem for mariners working on the Humber. One way to increase safety for mariners was to have a strong guiding light to act as a navigational aid around the changing sand banks. Discover how from this need the notion of a lightship (or light vessel) was born.
The Brigg Logboat
One of the largest and most impressive exhibits in the Municipal Museum in Albion Street before the Second World War was the Brigg prehistoric logboat. It was discovered in April 1886 by workmen constructing a gasometer on the right bank of the River Ancholme in Lincolnshire. Older and larger than the Hasholme Boat, she was the largest logboat ever discovered in Britain.
The Diana
At one time a great number of whaling ships and their crew set sail from Hull but that was all to change. In 1866 the Diana set sail on a whaling expedition but its perilous journey proved the dangerous nature of the occupation and the struggles faced by sailors. She became Hull's last whaling ship, read on to find out why.
Truelove: From War to Whaler
The 'Truelove' was a barque obtained by the British during the American War of Independence. She was converted into a whaling ship and so began an illustrious and colourful history that saw her become the oldest surviving vessel of her class. Read about her successes with whaling, how she transported natives from Greenland, and her final visit back home to Philadelphia some 100 years after her 'birth' there.
Silver Cod Trophy
Learn about the Silver Cod Trophy which was awarded annually from 1954 to 1968 by the British Trawlers' Federation to the vessel catching the largest amount of fish during the year.
A study of the Hasholme Boat
The discovery of a heavy cargo vessel in the silty clay riverbed of the Humber remained preserved for centuries until drainage uncovered her for all to see. For thousands of years the Humber has influenced lives and communities over thousands of square miles of Eastern Central England. For centuries Hull has dominated this great river. Read on to find out more about this early form of transport used to cross the Humber.
The Discovery of the Hasholme Boat
Learn about the discovery of this heavy cargo vessel from the banks of the Humber and how it ended up in a Hull museum.
The Ferriby Boats - Europe's Oldest Seacraft
The Ferriby boats were first found in 1937, two further boats were discovered in 1940 and 1963, all by Ted Wright who has become the principal authority on them. All were buried in the thick and very difficult blue clay in the inter-tidal regions of North Humberside. Read on to discover more about these early sea crafts.
The Discovery of the Ferriby Boats
The Ferriby boats were first found in 1937, two further boats were discovered in 1940 and 1963, all by Ted Wright who has become the principal authority on them. All were buried in the thick and very difficult blue clay in the inter-tidal regions of North Humberside. Read on to discover more about this amazing discovery.
