Can they save the Cutty Sark?

Saving the Cutty Sark, BBC ONE (London), Monday 22 March, 11.15pm

The Cutty Sark is one of Britain's best loved ships, but she's
crumbling and in need of urgent renovation.

Now the trustees of the ship are risking all they have on an ambitious
plan to save her.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/insideldn/cutty_sark.shtml

Press Releases
Saving the Cutty Sark

Category : London
Date : 15.03.2004

The Cutty Sark, one of Britain's best loved ships, is crumbling and on
the verge of falling apart.

Her only hope of being saved is a ground breaking experiment that has
never been tried before. Can a top team of scientists rescue her from
destruction?

Since she arrived at her dry dock in 1954, the Cutty Sark has been one
of London's most extraordinary landmarks.

As the last surviving clipper built for the China Tea trade in 1869,
the Cutty Sark is also a major part of Britain's Maritime history.

For the last half century, she has played host to and delighted hoards
of visitors. She's a national treasure. But her days could be
numbered.

The Cutty Sark is corroding to such an extent that she won't last the
next 50 years without speedy intervention.

But they can't just take her apart, remove the corrosion and put her
back together again.

The Cutty Sark is the only ship to be Grade I listed.

So a team of scientists from the University of Portsmouth have been
brought in – and they think they have the answer.

By a process of electrochemistry, the team have already successfully
saved marine vessels such as the M33.

But the Cutty Sark is unique – it is a composite structure of iron and
wood, and this will be the first time that these techniques will be
used on a composite construction.

And it's not going to be easy. As the scientists work alongside the
ship's technical department, funding, leaks, and finding eco-friendly
preservatives are just some of the things that the team have to deal
with on the way.

This film will chart the history of this magnificent ship, reveal her
day to day life as a working museum, and follow the drama of the
cutting edge experimental process.

Can they save the Cutty Sark?

Saving the Cutty Sark, BBC ONE (London), Monday 22 March, 11.15pm

PRESS RELEASES BY :Category

Category : London
Date : 15.03.2004

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...tty_sark.shtml