National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK) has announced that the Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC has joined as a new partner for the final season of the Shipshape Heritage Training Partnership 2 (SHTP 2) project – a £424,900 scheme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s ‘Skills for the Future’ programme.

SHTP 2 has run since 2018 and will complete in December 2020, having hosted 16 training placements, each of 12 months duration, focussing on traditional seamanship and museum shipkeeping skills. The project is supported by eight partner organisations, based within five key maritime heritage regions of the UK. Trainees gain valuable practical experience and knowledge working with training providers to learn and develop the vanishing skills essential for maintaining, handling and conserving historic vessels.

Located at the Rhoda Mary Shipyard in Cornwall, and nearing completion of the Falmouth Pilot Cutter Pellew the Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC joins the project following the sad demise of Trinity Sailing Foundation operations at the end of 2019. As a new project partner, Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC will host one of the Traditional Seafarer trainees, offering a wealth of opportunity to crew, maintain and operate a range of traditional vessels and within the boatyard.  SHTP 2 trainees will experience time on Agnes, a 46ft Scillonian pilot cutter and Pellew, a replica of the 68′ Falmouth Cutter Vincent built in St Mawes in 1852, both built by Luke Powell. The latter is scheduled for launch in February 2020, with training and chartering to commence in the spring.

Hannah Cunliffe, Director at NHS-UK, said: “I am delighted to welcome the team at Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC into the SHTP 2 partnership and look forward to working with them in the coming months.  The 2020 season offers some exciting opportunities for the trainees, with rotations amongst the partner vessels, masterclasses and an end of project Networking Day.  Falmouth Pilot Cutter CIC brings a wealth of skills and diversity to the programme with the addition of its vessel fleet and I feel confident this will be a mutually beneficial relationship for all concerned.”

Press release from NHS

The new cutter Pellew, being built in Truro, will be launched on February 29 2020. The event will be streamed via the FB page (see link above).