HQS Wellington

The world maritime heritage ship the Wellington will play host to the celebrations. Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS Wellington served in the Pacific mainly on station in New Zealand and China before the Second World War. During the war, Wellington served primarily in the North Atlantic on convoy escort duties. After the War, she was purchased by The Honourable Company of Master Mariners to act as their floating head quarters and has been permanently moored on the Thames since 1948. The HQS Wellington is now the home to both of the organising institutions, The Honourable Company of Master Mariners and the International Maritime Pilots’ Association.

This wonderful floating livery hall will form a very fitting the back-drop to the celebrations. For where better to acknowledge the importance of the shipping industry, than onboard a ship moored in the heart of London, the premier maritime city.

The participating partners in World Maritime Day will display within the varied and flexible spaces onboard the Wellington. We will have displays showing shipping around the UK’s coast, live displays by Sea Cadets, the Royal Navy and the Marines, a ship simulator will be onboard to give people a flavour of what it is like to ‘drive’ a ship.

Further dynamic displays will be provided by the three vessels berthed alongside. These will be from the Royal Navy, the Port of London Authority and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.