Recording Historic Vessels - Historic Naval Ships Association

R ECORDING H ISTORIC V ESSELS3. Assessing the significance of a vesselThe goal of researching a vessel’s history is to gain a fuller understanding of thesignificance of:i. The vessel’s uniqueness or typicality in terms of its type and function. Is she asurviving example of a once-common type or is it a one-off design?ii.The vessel’s uniqueness or typicality in both a national and a local context. Forexample, the last local type of fishing boat to be built in a particular yard; the lastof its type to trade or operate in a particular locality or a vessel such as a lifeboatinvolved in a famous rescue.iii. The vessel’s contribution to a broad understanding of maritime history. Forexample, an 18 th century warship may illustrate much about the practicalities offighting under sail.iv. The vessel’s contribution to technology, including her handling characteristics. Isshe the sole surviving example of a particular type of propulsion unit; animportant variation on a construction method; or a typical example of a certaintype of sailing rig?v. The vessel’s contribution to social and economic history, locally, nationally orinternationally.vi. Any parts of the fabric, fixtures and fittings that are unique or rare survivors; orare typical of the type of vessel under consideration; or are of technological,social or economic importance.Although the research will generate a considerable amount of information, it is essentialthat the conclusions stating what is significant about the vessel are drawn out and putdown on paper. These conclusions should be condensed into a concise Statement ofSignificance, ideally involving no more that two sides of A4.12