Veteran of WW1 HMS Caroline Is to Remain in Belfast Harbour

26th March 2022

Built in Birkenhead on Merseyside, the C-class light battlecruiser HMS Caroline is to remain in Belfast Harbour as a tourism attraction. Credit: HMS Caroline-facebook

HMS Caroline, the last remaining historic naval ship from one of the First World War's most famous sea battles (Jutland), is to remain in Belfast Harbour.

As ITV News reports, HMS Caroline has been in the city since 1924 and reopened as a tourist attraction seven years ago.

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA says the long-term future of the ship has been secured with it staying in Belfast until at least 2038.

There had been fears that the ship could have been towed to Portsmouth after being closed for much of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, agreement has been reached between the Department for the Economy, the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The ship is earmarked to reopen at the end of the summer.

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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