The Unicorn Preservation Society has announced the commencement of the vital survey work of HMS Unicorn. T. Nielsen & Company Ltd have been employed by the Unicorn Preservation Society (UPS) to undertake a full internal survey, which will collect data needed to progress the conservation plans of the ship.

A survey team of two specialist timber shipwrights will complete the survey and review the findings. T. Nielsen & Company are one of the world’s leading specialists in repairing, restoring and building traditional ships and rigging The team arrived Monday 22nd of March and plan to take five working days to carry out the survey.

The shipwright’s survey will cover all accessible internal elements of the ship including the Roof Structure, Upper deck, Gun deck, Orlop deck and the Hold. Each deck will be surveyed one at a time from stem to stern and the findings will help to provide a report that supports the structural analysis of the ship, which allow for conservation planning of HMS Unicorn.

The survey will be done in two phases: an internal and external survey. The internal phase is the first phase due to finish 26th March and the external survey will likely take place end of April 2021, weather depending. The external survey will require a floating pontoon be established in the Victoria Dock, so the team can examine the exterior elements of the ship from all angles.