British WWl Warship Refurbishment Project

Northern Ireland Office Minister, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, visited the historic HMS Caroline in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter as restoration grants are received, informs the UK Government.

As a former Royal Naval Officer as well as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Centenary Commemoration of the First World War, Dr Murrison had a particular interest in the planned project for the refurbishment of HMS Caroline which is the last surviving battleship from the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Speaking after his visit the Minister said:
I welcomed the opportunity to meet those involved in the refurbishment project for HMS Caroline and learn more of the plans to develop the ship into a First World War museum with full public access. We are extremely fortunate to have HMS Caroline docked in Belfast and I am pleased to hear about the successful joint applications by the National Museums of the Royal Navy and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to date in securing grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the ship.

The museum project is planned to be completed to coincide with the centenary of the Battle of Jutland in 2016.