Member Article

Local maritime treasure secure thanks to container donation from Mobile Mini

A project aiming to preserve a piece of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot history is being supported by the donation of a secure storage container.

The Pilot Cutter Seamark Trust is currently working to restore the 1959 Pilot Cutter Seamark, a vessel that served the Swansea Docks and Neath Port Talbot for 42 years, meeting incoming ships and guiding them safely into port.

As well as restoring the cutter to her former glory, the project also aims to provide a training opportunity for local students, with engineering apprentices from Gower College being invited to work on elements of the project such as reconditioning the boat hoist.

With no permanent site, and the Seamark heading for dry dock for re-painting, the Trust was unable to store the relics recovered from and associated with the vessel.

When hearing of the Trust’s plight, Mobile Mini, a leading hirer of secure storage containers, stepped in to help. As part of its Community Involvement Programme, which supports non-profit or voluntary organisations, a container was hired free of charge to store the precious cargo.

“As with any project of this kind, ensuring the safety and security of the artefacts we have collected was vital,” said Simon Forster, chairman of The Pilot Cutter Seamark Trust.

“Having seen many Mobile Mini containers locally, I contacted the Bridgend branch and was told about its community involvement programme. The team were very helpful, as well as being excited about the project, and before I knew it, we had the storage we so desperately needed.”

The container, located close to where the cutter is currently moored, has been fitted out to store valuable items from the Seamark’s history including log books, original life jackets, buoys and paintings, some of which pre-date the ship.

“With these precious items secure, the Trust can now work to clean, catalogue and display them ready to be reunited with the cutter,” continued Simon.

Once completed, the fully restored Seamark will provide an insight into the local maritime heritage, as well as giving schools, groups and organisations in the area an opportunity to engage directly with a piece of history.

About the donation, Steve Twist, sales executive for Mobile Mini, said: “We were thrilled to be able to support the Trust to ensure a piece of local history remains preserved.

“This is a very exciting project for the area and we’re looking forward to seeing the fully restored vessel.”

To find out more about Mobile Mini, visit www.mobilemini.co.uk Twitter: @MobileMiniUK

Visit Mobile Mini’s Community Involvement Programme for more information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harvey and Hugo .