The Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society has received $310,000 from the provincial government to help restore the site’s historic slipways in the 130-year-old shipyard building.
The restoration will allow Britannia to bring vessels into the shipyard building for repair and display.
“Being able to use the slipways will allow us to have boats in the shipyard building for public view. This is a central part of experiencing a shipyard site and has been missing at Britannia for many years,” said Andy Hobbs, chair of the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, in a statement.
“Watching boats be hauled off the Fraser River with a winch from 1901 is an unforgettable experience for anyone.”
The heritage society said experts in marine equipment and restoration will be hired to rebuild, and make functional, the boat cradles and chalks, multi-block system, sheaves, cables and winch in the East and West ways of the shipyard building.
Original materials and components will also be used when possible, while ensuring the system is safe to haul up large vessels into the future.
The funding – part of B.C.’s $10-billion COVID-19 response – was awarded through the Unique Heritage Infrastructure grant program under the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program.
