HMS Trincomalee, which is berthed in Hartlepool – is proud to have become the “elder lady of the sea” – the oldest warship still afloat in the world.
Her elevation, albeit temporary, to the oldest warship afloat in the world, comes following the announcement that the USS Constitution has been moved to dry dock until 2017 for her first major restoration in over twenty years.
USS Constitution first went to sea in 1797 while HMS Trincomalee first set sail twenty years later in 1817.
HMS Trincomalee, a 46-gun, fifth rate Leda-class frigate, lies berthed afloat at Hartlepool’s Historic Quay where she has been a major tourist attraction for the past 27 years.
The last of Lord Nelson’s frigates, her roles included fighting for the British Empire in the Far East and participating in the fight against slavery. Her travels also include Alaska, the Pacific and the West Indies.
HMS Trincomalee was built of teak, rather than oak, in Bombay, India at a cost of £23,000, which was a considerable sum in those days. She still retains around 64 per cent of her original structure.
David McKnight, General Manager of HMS Trincomalee, said: “It’s a great honour that Trincomalee is now the world’s oldest warship still afloat, albeit temporarily.
“Trincomalee is a wonderful elder lady of the sea who certainly has some tales to tell of life on the high seas. She is a very prominent and iconic landmark in Hartlepool whom the people of the area and indeed the region have taken to their hearts.”
Since 2014, Trincomalee has proudly been part of the heritage fleet of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, alongside HMS Victory, HMS Alliance and HMS Caroline. Trincomalee is included within the Core Collection of the National Register of Historic Vessels of the United Kingdom and is owned and maintained by the HMS Trincomalee Trust, a registered charity.
For more information about HMS Trincomalee, visit www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk, call 01429 223 193 or email visit@hms-trincomalee.co.uk.