Event : The IMarEST Stanley Gray Lecture – ‘A Unique Ship – A Unique Solution’ – being delivered by Peter Mason, Chief Engineer of the ‘Cutty Sark’ project
Date : Monday 9 July 2007
Time : Lecture at 17.30 (with tea from 17.00 and a post-lecture buffet at 18.30)
Venue : The City Conference Centre, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ.
Further information : www.imarest.org/events/stanleygraycuttysark/
The Cutty Sark, the world’s last tea clipper, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, was in the news for all the wrong reasons on 21 May this year. At 04.45 fire broke out on the ship, which was undergoing a major conservation project. This unique vessel will be the subject of the forthcoming Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) Stanley Gray Lecture, ‘A Unique Ship – A Unique Solution’ - being given by Peter Mason, Chief Engineer on the ‘Cutty Sark’ project on Monday 9 July.
Peter Mason explains: “The talk will start with the history of the ship, including design features, and move on to how it came to survive, not only as the most famous, but also the best preserved example of its type. Then there is the story of its plight for the last 50 years, sitting in its dock in Greenwich with its burden of salt. This leads on to the steps to arrest the insidious decline and make the ship a dramatic visitor attraction, with the underlying intent of being able to pay for future conservation in a sustainable way. Finally, I will be talking about what has the fire done to the ship and about the conservation project.”
In his 40 years as a civil engineer Peter Mason has worked on similar conservation projects to the ‘Cutty Sark’, such as the ‘SS Great Britain’ and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, as well as many large structures and bridges in the UK and overseas.
“We are delighted that Peter is able to join us, and will be able to give us an up-to-the- minute account of the plight of the ‘Cutty Sark’ and to bring us up to speed on the progress of the conservation project,” says IMarEST Chief Executive, Keith Read CBE. “There will be a collection on the evening to raise money for the Cutty Sark Trust, I know that all who attend will give generously. There is an online facility for giving for those unable to attend on the evening.”
The IMarEST Stanley Gray lecture, being held at The City Conference Centre (IMarEST H/Q) at 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ , is open to members and non-members alike. There is no charge for attending, but places can be reserved using the online facility at www.imarest.org/events/stanleygraycuttysark/
The lecture takes place at 17.30 on Monday 9 July. Tea is served from 17.00 and there is a post-lecture buffet at 18.30. Further information is available on the website, from events@imarest.org and Events Department, IMarEST, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2655.
