Role of Ship
Background
During the 1990s a small group of professionals set up the Cadland Consortium to develop their concept of a large, gracious sailing ship as a successor to HMY Britannia. Their Royal Sail Training Ship (RSTS) proposals would have allowed about 2,000 young people each year, from all walks of life, to enjoy the benefits of adventure training under sail whilst at the same time assisting with national and international events.
The RSTS would have provided a secure and stately venue for Royal visits and associated industrial and commercial activities. On occasions the young people, who would have been called Queen’s Cadets, would act as young ambassadors for the UK.
There would have been no procurement cost to the Government and about £40m
of the £65m build cost had been found from private sources before any other fundraising efforts.
The running costs would have been found from the sponsorship of the
Queen's Cadets by industry, individuals and voluntary organisations,
all having demonstrated strong support for the concept.
After much deliberation the Conservative Government decided to go ahead with a
conventional powered replacement for HMY Britannia, funded by the Government.
When the Labour Government came to power it decided that HMY Britannia would not be replaced.
Noting the continued interest in the idea of a large national sail training ship, the Cadland Consortium decided to re-focus its ideas, initiating discussions with universities and education authorities about the overall educational benefits which could be derived from combining academic and practical studies with adventure training under sail. This had been undertaken with outstanding success on a smaller scale in other countries. They named their concept the Future Ship Project for the 21st Century (FSP21).
Education
FSP21 will offer unique opportunities to provide flexible and responsive programmes for
a wide range of young people who would benefit from this style of education and activity.
The FSP21 project will positively link young people
between school and the world of work, school and university, university and post-graduate studies and research. Course lengths will be varied to suit the trainee, ranging from two weeks for the adventure training function through to a number of weeks for professional training, about three months for those pursuing academic studies and up to 12 months for maritime trainees.
Environment
The University of the Oceans will undertake research into the environment and health of the oceans. The scientific facilities will be used by students pursuing a variety of environmental related courses including oceanography, climate change, meteorology and fishery conservation.
The ship will also demonstrate how renewable energy resources can be used in the maritime industry. Its design will embody the spirit of the Rio ’92 Convention and incorporate not only the environmental protection requirements of the International Maritime Organisation but also all possible steps to reduce emissions to their lowest practical level. In operational terms this will achieve ‘zero emission’ for much of the lifetime of the vessel. Initially diesel electric, in the future internal and propulsion power will be generated from photovoltaics in the sails and around the hull.
Life skills
Through living, learning and working with others, participants aboard the ship will learn key life skills as well as studying academic and vocational courses. Overall the University of the Oceans will develop confidence, communication skills and promote team building.
Who benefits
The University of the Oceans will provide unique opportunities for flexible and responsive education and adventure training programmes for over 1,000 young people a year:
- Those who leave school at 16.
- Those continuing at school after GCSEs.
- Those undertaking professional courses (NVQs, etc).
- Young people from youth and cadet organisations.
- Young people from industry.
- Under-graduates and graduates pursuing higher degrees.
- Trainees from the maritime industry.
- Those who aim to work in the sail training industry
The ship will provide high quality and flexible facilities for conferences and exhibitions, which will be entirely suited to national and international events.