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Registration for 7th EMH congres in Seixal (Portugal) open. 8/12/2010 7th European Maritime Heritage Congress Are we able to hand maritime heritage down to future generations? Seixal, 23rd-25th September 2010 In recent years, institutions involved in heritage preservation and management, including museums, have engaged in reflection as to the means that might lead to the participation of young people in heritage protection and restoration processes. This question takes on still greater relevance when considering that these same individuals may simultaneously become the future visitors and/or users of heritage resources, future professionals in the technical and scientific fields related to heritage and, finally, the future custodians of heritage related testimonies and who would then in turn take on the mission to preserve and convey them for the generations to come. Hence, there is a need to identify the means of fostering youth interest in heritage, ensuring their active participation in the definition of heritage related programs. Through interaction with young people, both museums and the many other heritage related institutions would be contributing towards the instruction of future societies. The 7th European Maritime Heritage Congress correspondingly focuses upon these issues in relation to the field of maritime heritage. The host organisation, Seixal Municipal Ecomuseum, thereby hopes to nurture an exchange of experiences and boost the levels of cooperation between maritime museums and other entities involved in generating knowledge on safeguarding and promoting maritime heritage. Program Registration form Site of Ecomuseum in Seixal

Manifest in favour of the Floating Maritime Heritage of the Spanish State by Dr. Jaime Rodrigo de Larrucea 7/12/2010 Manifesto in favour of the Floating Maritime Heritage of the Spanish State Gijón Statement in the Framework of the European Maritime Day 20 May 2010, Dr. Jaime Rodrigo de Larrucea The history of Europe is strongly related to the sea. Our past holds numerous crucial maritime episodes that have determined our process of development and our culture. This is a common culture to all the people of Europe, a culture which is both plural and rich in diversity. Its most visible materialization are the different vessels and ships that maintained the people of the coastline and offered them new prospects. This is an important heritage, as it is the expression of intangible traditional knowledge, sawyers, shipbuilders, seamen, fishermen, and many other occupations (activities) related to a territory and a natural landscape. The European Union is aware of the value of such a legacy and is concerned about the littoral and coastal ecosystem damages and the lack of marine location. The policies of the European Union promote the preservation of marine environment and the recovery of activities related to the sea. The Green Paper - Towards a future of Maritime Policy for the Union : a European vision for the oceans and seas includes the chapter Reclaiming Europe’s Maritime Heritage and Reaffirming Europe’s Maritime Identity. This entails more active policies that give more visibility to maritime Europe, and the promotion of heritage, as well as the celebration of the European Maritime Day, due every May 20th. (See pdf for whole text.) Read the whole text

News from the 'Black Flag' initiative 7/5/2010 To the operators and lovers of traditional vessels. It is one year since we launched our international ship operators’ campaign, so it seems appropriate to take stock now: BLACKFLAG was primarily aimed at demonstrating to politicians and to the general public that there are serious flaws in the legal regime governing traditional vessels. Also, the campaign was about motivating people to actively contribute to finding solutions to our problems Read the more in the last newsletter Go for site

Report workshop Maritime Heritage European Maritime Heritage Day 6/3/2010 • Traditional ships ("maritime heritage afloat") offer a lot of added value in terms of visibility, identification and economic activity. However, there is no single market for these vessels and boats and bureaucratic obstacles with regard to movement, certificates and operations persist. Recommendation 1468/2000 of the Council of Europe never received appropriate follow-up and the EU should act on this. • For young people to keep up traditional skills and to make them interested in any kind of maritime employment we need to create a pan-European market for the traditional vessels still in operation. The upkeep of traditional ships also provides employment opportunities for people with specific skills and creates social networks. • Problems faced by traditional ships are not limited to Europe. Networking, exchange of best practice and a joint approach with partners around the world are essential. Download Summary of Per Jessinig For the programm, pictures etc see

EMH present at the European Maritime Day, the Stakeholder Conference on 19 May in Gijón, Spain 3/15/2010 There is a great value for the maritime heritage to sail around within EU, however there is no single market for our vessels and boats. For young people to keep up traditional skills we need to create a pan-European market for the traditional vessels still in operations Download programm Go for more information to the website

Canadian organisation joined EMH 2/22/2010 The organisation Goëlette Grosse-Île from Quebec became member of EMH as a associate member. They support EMH from Canada. The organisation restore the schooner Gross-Île, disseminate maritime culture in Quebec and operate the schooner for the benefit of the maritime tradition. Go for more information to the website

Lithuanian Sea Museum became Advisory member of EMH 10/23/2009 Main activities: Exposition of history of navigation, etnographic fisherman's Farmstead and also the Nerija fort, aquarium, dolphinarium, expositions of Sea birds and maamals and marine fauna. We operate traditional sailing ship of Coronian Lagoon "Süd1" and going to launch in the nearest future traditional fishing motor-baot (dore). Go for more information to the website

Traditional ships sail to a spontaneous Event in Marstal, Denmark. 9/16/2009 Tens of Dutch, German and Danish sailing ships altered their course to Marstal in Denmark. It is a spontaneous action to ask attention for the ongoing problems for traditional vessels travelling in Denmark and Germany. The ships will arrive Wednesday afternoon the 16th of September. Thursday morning the mayor of Marstal will be given a petition with the request to try its utmost to realise that sailing vessels also in future without problems can call at port in Denmark. Another message will be the continuation of the BLACKFLAG action and a token of appreciation to all the harbourmasters and other persons in Denmark that have supported the fleet in the last years. EMH at the same time plans to hand in an appeal to shipping authorities to change their recently very restrictive course in respect to traditional vessels. There will be a shanty choir performing, representatives from press and television have shown their interest for this event. At Wednesday 16th of September afternoon around 15:00 there leaves the dutch vessel “Catherina” from Kiel Holtenau to Marstal. There is some place for people interested in this event. “Catherina” will sail back to Kiel at Thursday around noon. Further Information: Pieter Boot, tel.0031622701043." Letter EMH Go for more information of the Blackflag activities

Report available of the European Maritime Day. 6/30/2009 The second workshop had as title: Raising awareness of common maritime heritage as a cultural pillar of the integrated maritime policy. Three key messages included on the reporting slide for the last plenary session • The variety of individual projects all over Europe proves that there is a common maritime heritage which could be used as the cultural pillar of an integrated maritime policy. • However, only a small part of the projects are visibly labelled as European and thus are not perceived by the European public as a genuine European maritime heritage. Others are either too specific or too specialised to be perceived by a larger public as of general European importance. Especially the latter deserve more and more widespread recognition – a task which could be fulfilled by European institutions. • Taken into consideration that the European institutions should not act normatively it seems reasonable to focus on a few but carefully chosen projects related to our common maritime heritage. Here the European Commission could e.g. provide for a framework in which a network of projects could be embedded. The projects accepted should be carefully selected and fulfil certain criteria like quality, European dimension, public interest to safeguard both standard and sustainability. See for Report See for all presentations

New Associate member in Poland 6/22/2009 Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji w Gdańsku owners of the General Zaruski new EMH associate member The 25m long gaff rigged wooden ketch General Zaruski, intended for 30 persons, was meant to be the first of 10 sister vessels, on board of which the Maritime and Colonial League planned to carry out a large scale programme of maritime education of the Polish youth. In 1940’s, following the dissolution of the Maritime League, the yacht was taken over by the Friends of Soldiers League (Liga Przyjaciół Żołnierza) which was later on transformed into the League of State Defence. During the Stalin regime, the yacht bore the name Młoda Gwardia. The City of Gdansk bought the ketch. After thorough renovation works, the ketch will both promote the City and serve as a training yacht for young people. Go for more information to the website

Blackflag campaign in Kiel 6/15/2009 Currently, our operating radius is extremely limited as we are often not allowed to call at even the nearest foreign port. That is why we are flying the black flag with a question mark in it - we simply do not know how to keep going under the current interpretations of legal framework. Increasingly, European countries are in disagreement about the mutual recognition of national provisions for traditional vessels and this is leading to some countries going it alone. The very concept of traditional shipping is threatened if we are only allowed to operate within the national waters before our doorstep. Heavily restricting cross-national operation will effectively end maritime exchanges, preclude visits to maritime events in other countries and thus run counter to the endeavour of preserving traditional seamanship by organising long cruises. European integration is increasingly based on legislation common to all member countries. National sets of rules for traditional vessels are a clear exception to this trend. What we need is a reliable international legal framework for the operation of our vessels. More information Apeal to the vessels operators www.blackflag.eu

Cooperation EMH and ESPO 5/26/2009 Maritime Heritage a tool for ports to create awareness. Modern ports are today out of reach for the general public. Security and modern techniques are the reason for this. It is however in the interest of each port to create awareness of its own activities and roots. There are several reasons for this and recruiting of future employees and better understanding about its activities in the city are two out of many reasons. Maritime Heritage should play a central role in order to create awareness. Most ports have centrally located areas that are not required for today’s port activities. In these parts of the port where the general public freely can enter heritage should be the given option to create awareness. European Maritime Heritage (EMH) - the association for traditional ships in operation - have today agreed with European Seaports’ Organization (ESPO) to encourage its members to cooperate in order to achieve the following targets: •ESPO should encourage ports to nominate a heritage officer responsible for the contacts with local heritage associations. EMH should help to identify the local EMH counterpart. • Heritage associations should make sure that in exchange for premises given their ships and other equipments are accessible, tidy and welcoming for the general public. • A heritage port could as well be used to display historic items from ports. • Taditional craftsmanship, restoration and maintenance should also be given appropriate premises in the heritage port whenever possible. • ESPO and EMH should encourage its members to co-operate for successful local and /or national festivals, events and similar. MARITIME HERITAGE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION. See PDF ESPO site

First Regional EMH Membership: Galicia 5/13/2009 The Galician Federation of Traditional Ships has decided to become Regional Member of EMH. The Federación Galega pola Cultura Marítima e Fluvial (FGCMF) is the name in Spanish and their magizine is called Ardentía Galicia has a very rich maritime culture and the most well known ship is the dorna. In many ports you can find these old or replicated wooden sailing boats. Museo do Mar, an important maritime musuem you will find in Vigo. The FGCMF's main activities are organising a regata and tradional ships meeting (biannual), promting awereness about Galician Maritime Heritage, collaborate with other similar institutions either at national and international level, participate in several fora and to carry out exhibitions and editing books about Galician Maritime Heritage. EMH is very proud to welcome our new friends. Have a look at the very nice and up-to-date website of FGCMF

Forbundet KYSTEN new Associate Member of EMH 3/24/2009 The Norwegian coastal association Forbundet KYSTEN subscribed as new Associate Member of EMH. This association, foundet in 1979, is set up to strenghten the identity as coastal people, to maintain, transfer and develop traditional knowledge and practical learning (crafts, seamanship etc.) and to improve the standards of protection of the Norwegian coastel culture. At the end of 2008, the Association have about 9.000 members througout Norway and abroad and 110 local branches - Coastal Heritage Centres. The local branches rally people from their communities to restore or build replicas of boats that are representative of the particular areas heritage. The original intent was to fix or build boats. But the focus has evolved. The scope of its activities has widened constantly. Working with the local character of a given area, the most ambitous of the kystlags strive to create nothing less than coastal cultural identity centers, where one can go to experience the very foundations of the coastal community; the food, the work - the life. And the center of it all, the boats. EMH is glad to welcome this strong organisation from Norway. www.kysten.no

Nis-Edwin List-Petersen the new representative for Denmark 3/10/2009 Since last year two important people for the Danish as well as for the European maritime heritage takes formal leave of the EMH family Nis-Edwin List-Petersen is just pointed as their successor. In October the Working group of EMH honoured Arne Gotved and Jørgen Josephsen for all they did for EMH since the start in 1992. Arne was the motor behind the Barcelona Charter and Jørgen was involved with Safety Rules and the EMH working process. Nis-Edwin is vice-president of Traeskibs Sammenslutningen (TS) and a sailor with his Lofot Cutter Solvang (1930). He will be the representative for Denmark and also member of the Cultural Council. Go for a picture of the EMH honorary members Arne Gotved (l) and Jørgen Josephsen (r ) . And the ceremony October 2008 during the Conference in Rostock. From left to right: Per Jessing, Jørgen Jesepphsen, Arne Gotved, Michael vom Baur, Hendrik Boland, Thedo Fruithof, Jan Fock and John Robinson. Go for site of Nis-Edwin's Solvang

Looking for partnership in EU Leonardo da Vinci programme 2/2/2009 The A.K. Ilen Company is an Irish non-profit organisation that has as its primary objective the refitting of the Ilen- the only surviving example of an Irish wooden-built trading vessel (launched in 1926). We have recently commenced a series of workshops to undertake the refit; these involve a number of participants working under the instruction of experienced shipwrights. We intend to apply for funding towards our project from the European Commission under the Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) programme, which is the element of the Commission’s life Long Learning initiative concerned with vocational education and training (VET). One source of funding available under the programme is through the formation of partnerships with other institutions involved in VET and the purpose of this communication is to ascertain whether your organisation would be interested in becoming involved in such a partnership. Benefits of participation in the proposed partnership include: • Opportunity for exchange of best practice • Increasing co-operation between regions and sectors • Increasing co-operation between schools and industry • Strengthening of mutual learning • Exposure to working in transnational partnership The criteria for LdV Partnerships activities are quite broad and can include workshops, multilateral exchanges of staff and learners as well as more formal activities such as integration of theory and practice. Each EU State has a National Agency responsible for administering the Leonardo da Vinci programme and each prospective partner organisation must apply for funding from its own Agency. Match funding is not a requirement of the partners and the E.U. contribution is based simply on the number of ‘mobilities’ i.e. visits to partners. Other forms of co-operation, for example Transfer of Innovation, can attract more significant levels of LdV funding and we are also exploring the possibility of submitting an application to our National Agency under this heading. In this case the AK Ilen Company would be the co-ordinating partner and would be responsible for the funding for all partners. Should you feel that involvement in an LdV project as outlined would be beneficial to (name of organisation), I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the matter further. Please contact the undersigned via email in the first instance and I’ll be glad to provide further information on the proposal. Yours sincerely, Eugene Pratt on behalf of the AK Ilen Company Click for letter. www.ilen.ie

EMH sent the proposal for Chapter 19 of the EG 2006/97 12/22/2008 The Inland Waterway Council of EMH presented a proposal for the discussions in the EU Joint Working Group. EMH is very pleased that the principle of traditional ships in operation is acknowledged in chapter 19 of EU 2006/87. EMH has attended the discussion in the JWG with interest and now likes to contribute to this discussion with a proposal for chapter 19 of the Directive 87/2006/EG on behalf of the organizations of owners of historical ships. http://www.european-maritime-heritage.org/iwc.aspx

Start of European Heritage Legal Forum 10/29/2008 The new European EHLF (European Heritage Legal Forum) consultation body recently had its first meeting in the prestigious embassy of the Free State of Bavaria near the European Union in Brussels, directly opposite the entrance to the building of the European Parliament. The EHLF is composed of representatives of several European countries who investigate the effect of EU legislation on European cultural heritage. Although cultural heritage is a major economic factor for Europe, especially from a touristic point of view, the European Union has no direct say on this. This field is reserved for the individual member states themselves. However, legislation in other areas, on which Europe has a say, such as the environment, working conditions etc., increasingly affects the preservation of our monuments and landscapes. Of course, European legislation never purposely harms monuments, but there may often be harmful side effects resulting from a law or a measure, whose consequences could not be assessed sufficiently in advance. Harmful side effects. Time and again such harmful side effects to cultural heritage have to be countered in individual countries by implementing exception clauses if and where possible. Since some countries fail to do this at all, and others do this in their own ways, a highly differentiated, hard to oversee landscape of legislation on the protection of cultural heritage has come into being in Europe. For example, of course, paintings of old masters have to be restored with the same leadcontaining paint originally used by the old masters, despite the European ban on the use of paints which contain metals. Of course, the doors of our historic churches have to continue to open inwards as a sign of welcome, despite the European obligation that all doors of public buildings have to open outward for reasons of fire safety. And of course we must prevent all windows of historic buildings being replaced by lastic windows because they fail to comply with European environmental requirements. In this respect, the EHLF aims to achieve that, in the future, all intended EU legislation is assessed in advance as to the harmful side effects which such measures may have for cultural heritage. Recommendations for exceptions or for developing alternatives can then be formulated at an early stage and may even already be integrated into the intended legislation. European Heritage Heads Forum. The direct cause for creating the EHLF was a meeting in Copenhagen, earlier this year, of the European EHHF (European Heritage Heads Forum), an annual meeting of the directors of national government bodies on the preservation of cultural heritage of the European countries. It was here that the need to streamline European rules which negatively affect the preservation of cultural heritage was recognised. The EHLF is the continuation of a former working committee, called ECHO (European Working Group on EU Directives and Cultural Heritage), which had been active in this field for some years. The EHLF is managed by a secretariat on which representatives of Norway (Riksantikvaren, Directorate for Cultural Heritage), the UK (English Heritage), the Netherlands (Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant), France (Ministry of Culture and Communication) and Finland (National Board of Antiquities) have a seat. Click for Press Release Go for site EHLF

EMH presented the Rostock Declaration during Baltic Sail conference 10/10/2008 The Baltic Sail conference, in session on 10th October 2008, declares: The concept of preserving traditional ships and craft for future generations by keeping them in operation has turned out to be very successful during the past three decades. Maritime festivals and regattas frequently attract hundreds of thousands of spectators. Major maritime festivals such as the Baltic Sail festivals and many others in various ports of Europe, testify that the public has a broad interest in the operating maritime heritage. If we are to pass on this experience to our successors we must work together on a European level: by sharing expertise and resources among member states of the EU to ensure that this precious cultural heritage of maritime skills and traditions is not allowed to die from neglect. Actions taken During the last decades the following political initiatives have been taken in order to facilitate the preservation and operation of traditional ships: - In 2000 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) asked the governments of Europe in its recommendation No 1468 to: o Support and encourage private bodies which preserve historic vessels, o Encourage the display of these vessels for the general public, o Encourage further development of a system of mutual acceptability by the maritime authorities of nation states of standards for the safe operation of traditional vessels, - In 2000 Denmark, Finland Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK signed the Memorandum of Understanding (“Wilhelmshaven MoU”), which mutually recognizes each country’s national regulations for traditional ships in operation. Norway (2004) and Estonia (2005) have since then joined the MoU. - In 2002 the Barcelona Charter was adopted, a guideline for conservation and restoration of traditional ships in operation - In 2007 the participation in the green paper process for a future maritime policy in Europe with recommendations for a EU Maritime Policy regarding the support and safeguarding of maritime heritage. Actions to be taken The acknowledgement must now be shared that traditional ships in operation do preserve the maritime heritage and address a significant public interest. - National governments should acknowledge the concept of a traditional ship in their legislation in order to facilitate the registration and regulation of those vessels in accordance with their special status. - An EU Maritime Policy should be drafted based on existing national regulations for traditional ships. The Baltic sail conference calls on all responsble persons and authorities to, - Use their influence to solve the problem of the acceptance of national regulations for traditional ships (on international voyages), The Wilhelmshaven MoU provides a guideline for a common minimum standard for traditional ships in operation which should be the base of an EU Maritime Policy - Use their influence to urge governments to work together to establish a European Maritime Policy for traditional ships. Holger Bellgardt Chairman of the Baltic Sail Conference Roland Methling Mayor of Hanseatic City of Rostock Per Jessing Chairman of European Maritime Heritage See for declaration in PDF

EMH sent a letter to the European Commission as a response to their consultation on reduced VAT rates. 5/9/2008 In respons of the EU Consultation paper EMH sent their advice to the European Commission. Click for the EU consultation paper. Click for EMH letter

Proceedings Rotterdam Congress 'Sailing into Europe's future' available 11/9/2007 The proceedings of the 6th EMH Congress is available and may be purchased from the EMH Office: Dijkweg 222, 1619 JC Andijk, the Netherlands, Tel/Fax 0031 228 593 136. Email: thedo @ wxs.nl € 15 + mailing costs

EMH response to European Green Paper 6/29/2007 EMH sent the final version of the respons to the European Green Paper to the European Commission's Maritime Policy Task Force. text EMH Response Green Paper

EMH presentation in Bremen 5/3/2007 EMH was invited for the European consultation conference of the German Presidency and the Commission on the Maritime Policy Green Paper in Bremen. Hon.President Anders Berg showed the updated version of EMH policy: "Europe's Maritime Future is founded in Europe's Maritime Heritage" text of Anders Bergs' presentation pictures of the EMH presentation

EMH Triennial Congress in Rotterdam: great success 4/18/2007 The sixth EMH Congress in Rotterdam hosted by the Havenmuseum was a great succes. The first day started with a harbour tour and the start of the "Race of the Classics" on a hot day in April. The congress was attended by participants of 15 countries and around 30 presentations about aspects of the maritime heritage were given. Most presentations where focussed on the European Commission’s year-long consultation process on its Green Paper entitled "Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas". The head of this EU Maritime Task Force Mr. John Richardson concluded with the words "maritime unity in diversity" expressing the main content of these congress. opening speech of the president Michael vom Baur of the EMH Congress Rotterdam text Rotterdam Declaration

Signing Memorandum of Understanding 11/28/2005 News from the Safety Council. In the House of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects in London maritime authorities signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom were in London to sign this renewed memorandum. United kingdom is for 2005 and 2006 the Chair of the Committee of the Memorandum. Thanks to the active role of David W. Ralph this document is updated en revised.

Barcelona Charter available as booklet 12/1/2004 The Barcelona Charter – European Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Traditional Ships in Operation – is now available as a booklet. The Barcelona Charter was created by European Maritime Heritage (EMH) as a code of best practice and minimum standard for conservation and restoration of vessels to be recognized as traditional ships in operation. The creation of the Barcelona Charter was inspired by the Venice Charter of 1964, stating the principles for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites ashore. The text of the preamble of the Venice Charter is fully valid also for vessels of historical significance, and it says: Imbued with a message from the past, the historic monuments of generations of people remain to the present day as living witnesses of their age-old traditions. People are becoming more and more conscious of the unity of human values and regard ancient monuments as a common heritage. The common responsibility to safeguard them for future generations is recognized. It is our duty to hand them on in the full richness of their authenticity. The Barcelona Charter may be ordered via your local book shop. Bibliographic information: Heidbrink, Ingo (Ed.) The “Barcelona Charter” Publishing House: H. M. Hauschild Bremen. ISBN 3-89757-253-2. Price: € 3,- in Germany (€ 3,10 in other countries) + shipping and handling. The Barcelona Charter may also be viewed on the EMH website. The EMH is the European non-governmental organisation for owners of traditional ships in operation. Its members consist of national and regional associations of owners of traditional ships in operation, maritime museums, and other private bodies and organisations which support the preservation of the European maritime heritage. The EMH may be contacted through the EMH Secretary’s office.

Anders Berg nominated as Honorary President 7/31/2004 During the General Assembly, held in Karlskrona 31 July 2004 Arne Gotved paid tribute to the huge contribution to EMH made by Anders Berg, both as our Secretary from 1994 and more recently as President, from which position Anders had now retired. In the name of the General Assembly, Arne Gotved now invited Andere Berg to accept the position of Honorary President, adding that Jacques Chauveau, the first holder of that high office, would have been proud to see it occupied by Anders. Amid acclamation, Anders Berg accepted the office of Honorary President/President d’Honneur. Anders Berg just after his nomination, a long time speechless before he could answer…

Signing Barcelona Charter 4/3/2003 On board of the Frigate "Jylland" in Ebeltoft (Denmark) the President of EMH Anders Berg and the Chairman of the EMH Cultural Council Arne Gotved signed Sunday 30th March 2003 the official excepted text of the Barcelona Charter. Anders Berg (left) and Arne Gotved (right).

Registration for 7th EMH congres in Seixal (Portugal) open.
8/12/2010

7th European Maritime Heritage Congress Are we able to hand maritime heritage down to future generations? Seixal, 23rd-25th September 2010

In recent years, institutions involved in heritage preservation and management, including museums, have engaged in reflection as to the means that might lead to the participation of young people in heritage protection and restoration processes. This question takes on still greater relevance when considering that these same individuals may simultaneously become the future visitors and/or users of heritage resources, future professionals in the technical and scientific fields related to heritage and, finally, the future custodians of heritage related testimonies and who would then in turn take on the mission to preserve and convey them for the generations to come. Hence, there is a need to identify the means of fostering youth interest in heritage, ensuring their active participation in the definition of heritage related programs. Through interaction with young people, both museums and the many other heritage related institutions would be contributing towards the instruction of future societies. The 7th European Maritime Heritage Congress correspondingly focuses upon these issues in relation to the field of maritime heritage. The host organisation, Seixal Municipal Ecomuseum, thereby hopes to nurture an exchange of experiences and boost the levels of cooperation between maritime museums and other entities involved in generating knowledge on safeguarding and promoting maritime heritage.

Program
Registration form
Site of Ecomuseum in Seixal

Manifest in favour of the Floating Maritime Heritage of the Spanish State by Dr. Jaime Rodrigo de Larrucea
7/12/2010

Manifesto in favour of the Floating Maritime Heritage of the Spanish State Gijón Statement in the Framework of the European Maritime Day 20 May 2010, Dr. Jaime Rodrigo de Larrucea

The history of Europe is strongly related to the sea. Our past holds numerous crucial maritime episodes that have determined our process of development and our culture. This is a common culture to all the people of Europe, a culture which is both plural and rich in diversity. Its most visible materialization are the different vessels and ships that maintained the people of the coastline and offered them new prospects. This is an important heritage, as it is the expression of intangible traditional knowledge, sawyers, shipbuilders, seamen, fishermen, and many other occupations (activities) related to a territory and a natural landscape.

The European Union is aware of the value of such a legacy and is concerned about the littoral and coastal ecosystem damages and the lack of marine location. The policies of the European Union promote the preservation of marine environment and the recovery of activities related to the sea. The Green Paper - Towards a future of Maritime Policy for the Union : a European vision for the oceans and seas includes the chapter Reclaiming Europe’s Maritime Heritage and Reaffirming Europe’s Maritime Identity. This entails more active policies that give more visibility to maritime Europe, and the promotion of heritage, as well as the celebration of the European Maritime Day, due every May 20th. (See pdf for whole text.)

Read the whole text

News from the 'Black Flag' initiative
7/5/2010

To the operators and lovers of traditional vessels.

It is one year since we launched our international ship operators’ campaign, so it seems appropriate to take stock now: BLACKFLAG was primarily aimed at demonstrating to politicians and to the general public that there are serious flaws in the legal regime governing traditional vessels. Also, the campaign was about motivating people to actively contribute to finding solutions to our problems

Read the more in the last newsletter

Go for site

Report workshop Maritime Heritage European Maritime Heritage Day
6/3/2010

• Traditional ships ("maritime heritage afloat") offer a lot of added value in terms of visibility, identification and economic activity. However, there is no single market for these vessels and boats and bureaucratic obstacles with regard to movement, certificates and operations persist. Recommendation 1468/2000 of the Council of Europe never received appropriate follow-up and the EU should act on this.

• For young people to keep up traditional skills and to make them interested in any kind of maritime employment we need to create a pan-European market for the traditional vessels still in operation. The upkeep of traditional ships also provides employment opportunities for people with specific skills and creates social networks.

• Problems faced by traditional ships are not limited to Europe. Networking, exchange of best practice and a joint approach with partners around the world are essential.

Download Summary of Per Jessinig

For the programm, pictures etc see

EMH present at the European Maritime Day, the Stakeholder Conference on 19 May in Gijón, Spain
3/15/2010

There is a great value for the maritime heritage to sail around within EU, however there is no single market for our vessels and boats. For young people to keep up traditional skills we need to create a pan-European market for the traditional vessels still in operations

Download programm

Go for more information to the website

Canadian organisation joined EMH
2/22/2010

The organisation Goëlette Grosse-Île from Quebec became member of EMH as a associate member.

They support EMH from Canada. The organisation restore the schooner Gross-Île, disseminate maritime culture in Quebec and operate the schooner for the benefit of the maritime tradition.

Go for more information to the website

Lithuanian Sea Museum became Advisory member of EMH
10/23/2009

Main activities: Exposition of history of navigation, etnographic fisherman's Farmstead and also the Nerija fort, aquarium, dolphinarium, expositions of Sea birds and maamals and marine fauna. We operate traditional sailing ship of Coronian Lagoon "Süd1" and going to launch in the nearest future traditional fishing motor-baot (dore).

Go for more information to the website

Traditional ships sail to a spontaneous Event in Marstal, Denmark.
9/16/2009

Tens of Dutch, German and Danish sailing ships altered their course to Marstal in Denmark. It is a spontaneous action to ask attention for the ongoing problems for traditional vessels travelling in Denmark and Germany. The ships will arrive Wednesday afternoon the 16th of September. Thursday morning the mayor of Marstal will be given a petition with the request to try its utmost to realise that sailing vessels also in future without problems can call at port in Denmark.

Another message will be the continuation of the BLACKFLAG action and a token of appreciation to all the harbourmasters and other persons in Denmark that have supported the fleet in the last years. EMH at the same time plans to hand in an appeal to shipping authorities to change their recently very restrictive course in respect to traditional vessels. There will be a shanty choir performing, representatives from press and television have shown their interest for this event.

At Wednesday 16th of September afternoon around 15:00 there leaves the dutch vessel “Catherina” from Kiel Holtenau to Marstal. There is some place for people interested in this event. “Catherina” will sail back to Kiel at Thursday around noon. Further Information: Pieter Boot, tel.0031622701043."

Letter EMH

Go for more information of the Blackflag activities

Report available of the European Maritime Day.
6/30/2009

The second workshop had as title: Raising awareness of common maritime heritage as a cultural pillar of the integrated maritime policy.

Three key messages included on the reporting slide for the last plenary session • The variety of individual projects all over Europe proves that there is a common maritime heritage which could be used as the cultural pillar of an integrated maritime policy. • However, only a small part of the projects are visibly labelled as European and thus are not perceived by the European public as a genuine European maritime heritage. Others are either too specific or too specialised to be perceived by a larger public as of general European importance. Especially the latter deserve more and more widespread recognition – a task which could be fulfilled by European institutions. • Taken into consideration that the European institutions should not act normatively it seems reasonable to focus on a few but carefully chosen projects related to our common maritime heritage. Here the European Commission could e.g. provide for a framework in which a network of projects could be embedded. The projects accepted should be carefully selected and fulfil certain criteria like quality, European dimension, public interest to safeguard both standard and sustainability.

See for Report

See for all presentations

New Associate member in Poland
6/22/2009

Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji w Gdańsku owners of the General Zaruski new EMH associate member

The 25m long gaff rigged wooden ketch General Zaruski, intended for 30 persons, was meant to be the first of 10 sister vessels, on board of which the Maritime and Colonial League planned to carry out a large scale programme of maritime education of the Polish youth. In 1940’s, following the dissolution of the Maritime League, the yacht was taken over by the Friends of Soldiers League (Liga Przyjaciół Żołnierza) which was later on transformed into the League of State Defence. During the Stalin regime, the yacht bore the name Młoda Gwardia.

The City of Gdansk bought the ketch. After thorough renovation works, the ketch will both promote the City and serve as a training yacht for young people.

Go for more information to the website

Blackflag campaign in Kiel
6/15/2009

Currently, our operating radius is extremely limited as we are often not allowed to call at even the nearest foreign port. That is why we are flying the black flag with a question mark in it - we simply do not know how to keep going under the current interpretations of legal framework.

Increasingly, European countries are in disagreement about the mutual recognition of national provisions for traditional vessels and this is leading to some countries going it alone. The very concept of traditional shipping is threatened if we are only allowed to operate within the national waters before our doorstep. Heavily restricting cross-national operation will effectively end maritime exchanges, preclude visits to maritime events in other countries and thus run counter to the endeavour of preserving traditional seamanship by organising long cruises.

European integration is increasingly based on legislation common to all member countries. National sets of rules for traditional vessels are a clear exception to this trend. What we need is a reliable international legal framework for the operation of our vessels.

More information
Apeal to the vessels operators
www.blackflag.eu

Cooperation EMH and ESPO
5/26/2009

Maritime Heritage a tool for ports to create awareness. Modern ports are today out of reach for the general public. Security and modern techniques are the reason for this. It is however in the interest of each port to create awareness of its own activities and roots. There are several reasons for this and recruiting of future employees and better understanding about its activities in the city are two out of many reasons. Maritime Heritage should play a central role in order to create awareness. Most ports have centrally located areas that are not required for today’s port activities. In these parts of the port where the general public freely can enter heritage should be the given option to create awareness. European Maritime Heritage (EMH) - the association for traditional ships in operation - have today agreed with European Seaports’ Organization (ESPO) to encourage its members to cooperate in order to achieve the following targets:

•ESPO should encourage ports to nominate a heritage officer responsible for the contacts with local heritage associations. EMH should help to identify the local EMH counterpart. • Heritage associations should make sure that in exchange for premises given their ships and other equipments are accessible, tidy and welcoming for the general public. • A heritage port could as well be used to display historic items from ports. • Taditional craftsmanship, restoration and maintenance should also be given appropriate premises in the heritage port whenever possible. • ESPO and EMH should encourage its members to co-operate for successful local and /or national festivals, events and similar.

MARITIME HERITAGE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION.

See PDF

ESPO site

First Regional EMH Membership: Galicia
5/13/2009

The Galician Federation of Traditional Ships has decided to become Regional Member of EMH. The Federación Galega pola Cultura Marítima e Fluvial (FGCMF) is the name in Spanish and their magizine is called Ardentía

Galicia has a very rich maritime culture and the most well known ship is the dorna. In many ports you can find these old or replicated wooden sailing boats. Museo do Mar, an important maritime musuem you will find in Vigo. The FGCMF's main activities are organising a regata and tradional ships meeting (biannual), promting awereness about Galician Maritime Heritage, collaborate with other similar institutions either at national and international level, participate in several fora and to carry out exhibitions and editing books about Galician Maritime Heritage.

EMH is very proud to welcome our new friends.

Have a look at the very nice and up-to-date website of FGCMF

Forbundet KYSTEN new Associate Member of EMH
3/24/2009

The Norwegian coastal association Forbundet KYSTEN subscribed as new Associate Member of EMH. This association, foundet in 1979, is set up to strenghten the identity as coastal people, to maintain, transfer and develop traditional knowledge and practical learning (crafts, seamanship etc.) and to improve the standards of protection of the Norwegian coastel culture.

At the end of 2008, the Association have about 9.000 members througout Norway and abroad and 110 local branches - Coastal Heritage Centres. The local branches rally people from their communities to restore or build replicas of boats that are representative of the particular areas heritage. The original intent was to fix or build boats. But the focus has evolved. The scope of its activities has widened constantly. Working with the local character of a given area, the most ambitous of the kystlags strive to create nothing less than coastal cultural identity centers, where one can go to experience the very foundations of the coastal community; the food, the work - the life. And the center of it all, the boats.

EMH is glad to welcome this strong organisation from Norway.

www.kysten.no

Nis-Edwin List-Petersen the new representative for Denmark
3/10/2009

Since last year two important people for the Danish as well as for the European maritime heritage takes formal leave of the EMH family Nis-Edwin List-Petersen is just pointed as their successor.

In October the Working group of EMH honoured Arne Gotved and Jørgen Josephsen for all they did for EMH since the start in 1992. Arne was the motor behind the Barcelona Charter and Jørgen was involved with Safety Rules and the EMH working process.

Nis-Edwin is vice-president of Traeskibs Sammenslutningen (TS) and a sailor with his Lofot Cutter Solvang (1930). He will be the representative for Denmark and also member of the Cultural Council.

Go for a picture of the EMH honorary members Arne Gotved (l) and Jørgen Josephsen (r ) .
And the ceremony October 2008 during the Conference in Rostock. From left to right: Per Jessing, Jørgen Jesepphsen, Arne Gotved, Michael vom Baur, Hendrik Boland, Thedo Fruithof, Jan Fock and John Robinson.
Go for site of Nis-Edwin's Solvang

Looking for partnership in EU Leonardo da Vinci programme
2/2/2009

The A.K. Ilen Company is an Irish non-profit organisation that has as its primary objective the refitting of the Ilen- the only surviving example of an Irish wooden-built trading vessel (launched in 1926). We have recently commenced a series of workshops to undertake the refit; these involve a number of participants working under the instruction of experienced shipwrights.

We intend to apply for funding towards our project from the European Commission under the Leonardo da Vinci (LdV) programme, which is the element of the Commission’s life Long Learning initiative concerned with vocational education and training (VET). One source of funding available under the programme is through the formation of partnerships with other institutions involved in VET and the purpose of this communication is to ascertain whether your organisation would be interested in becoming involved in such a partnership. Benefits of participation in the proposed partnership include: • Opportunity for exchange of best practice • Increasing co-operation between regions and sectors • Increasing co-operation between schools and industry • Strengthening of mutual learning • Exposure to working in transnational partnership

The criteria for LdV Partnerships activities are quite broad and can include workshops, multilateral exchanges of staff and learners as well as more formal activities such as integration of theory and practice. Each EU State has a National Agency responsible for administering the Leonardo da Vinci programme and each prospective partner organisation must apply for funding from its own Agency. Match funding is not a requirement of the partners and the E.U. contribution is based simply on the number of ‘mobilities’ i.e. visits to partners. Other forms of co-operation, for example Transfer of Innovation, can attract more significant levels of LdV funding and we are also exploring the possibility of submitting an application to our National Agency under this heading. In this case the AK Ilen Company would be the co-ordinating partner and would be responsible for the funding for all partners. Should you feel that involvement in an LdV project as outlined would be beneficial to (name of organisation), I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the matter further. Please contact the undersigned via email in the first instance and I’ll be glad to provide further information on the proposal. Yours sincerely, Eugene Pratt on behalf of the AK Ilen Company

Click for letter.

www.ilen.ie

EMH sent the proposal for Chapter 19 of the EG 2006/97
12/22/2008

The Inland Waterway Council of EMH presented a proposal for the discussions in the EU Joint Working Group.

EMH is very pleased that the principle of traditional ships in operation is acknowledged in chapter 19 of EU 2006/87. EMH has attended the discussion in the JWG with interest and now likes to contribute to this discussion with a proposal for chapter 19 of the Directive 87/2006/EG on behalf of the organizations of owners of historical ships.

http://www.european-maritime-heritage.org/iwc.aspx

Start of European Heritage Legal Forum
10/29/2008

The new European EHLF (European Heritage Legal Forum) consultation body recently had its first meeting in the prestigious embassy of the Free State of Bavaria near the European Union in Brussels, directly opposite the entrance to the building of the European Parliament. The EHLF is composed of representatives of several European countries who investigate the effect of EU legislation on European cultural heritage. Although cultural heritage is a major economic factor for Europe, especially from a touristic point of view, the European Union has no direct say on this. This field is reserved for the individual member states themselves. However, legislation in other areas, on which Europe has a say, such as the environment, working conditions etc., increasingly affects the preservation of our monuments and landscapes. Of course, European legislation never purposely harms monuments, but there may often be harmful side effects resulting from a law or a measure, whose consequences could not be assessed sufficiently in advance.

Harmful side effects. Time and again such harmful side effects to cultural heritage have to be countered in individual countries by implementing exception clauses if and where possible. Since some countries fail to do this at all, and others do this in their own ways, a highly differentiated, hard to oversee landscape of legislation on the protection of cultural heritage has come into being in Europe. For example, of course, paintings of old masters have to be restored with the same leadcontaining paint originally used by the old masters, despite the European ban on the use of paints which contain metals. Of course, the doors of our historic churches have to continue to open inwards as a sign of welcome, despite the European obligation that all doors of public buildings have to open outward for reasons of fire safety. And of course we must prevent all windows of historic buildings being replaced by lastic windows because they fail to comply with European environmental requirements. In this respect, the EHLF aims to achieve that, in the future, all intended EU legislation is assessed in advance as to the harmful side effects which such measures may have for cultural heritage. Recommendations for exceptions or for developing alternatives can then be formulated at an early stage and may even already be integrated into the intended legislation.

European Heritage Heads Forum. The direct cause for creating the EHLF was a meeting in Copenhagen, earlier this year, of the European EHHF (European Heritage Heads Forum), an annual meeting of the directors of national government bodies on the preservation of cultural heritage of the European countries. It was here that the need to streamline European rules which negatively affect the preservation of cultural heritage was recognised. The EHLF is the continuation of a former working committee, called ECHO (European Working Group on EU Directives and Cultural Heritage), which had been active in this field for some years. The EHLF is managed by a secretariat on which representatives of Norway (Riksantikvaren, Directorate for Cultural Heritage), the UK (English Heritage), the Netherlands (Monumentenwacht Noord-Brabant), France (Ministry of Culture and Communication) and Finland (National Board of Antiquities) have a seat.

Click for Press Release

Go for site EHLF

EMH presented the Rostock Declaration during Baltic Sail conference
10/10/2008

The Baltic Sail conference, in session on 10th October 2008, declares: The concept of preserving traditional ships and craft for future generations by keeping them in operation has turned out to be very successful during the past three decades. Maritime festivals and regattas frequently attract hundreds of thousands of spectators. Major maritime festivals such as the Baltic Sail festivals and many others in various ports of Europe, testify that the public has a broad interest in the operating maritime heritage. If we are to pass on this experience to our successors we must work together on a European level: by sharing expertise and resources among member states of the EU to ensure that this precious cultural heritage of maritime skills and traditions is not allowed to die from neglect.

Actions taken During the last decades the following political initiatives have been taken in order to facilitate the preservation and operation of traditional ships: - In 2000 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) asked the governments of Europe in its recommendation No 1468 to: o Support and encourage private bodies which preserve historic vessels, o Encourage the display of these vessels for the general public, o Encourage further development of a system of mutual acceptability by the maritime authorities of nation states of standards for the safe operation of traditional vessels, - In 2000 Denmark, Finland Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK signed the Memorandum of Understanding (“Wilhelmshaven MoU”), which mutually recognizes each country’s national regulations for traditional ships in operation. Norway (2004) and Estonia (2005) have since then joined the MoU. - In 2002 the Barcelona Charter was adopted, a guideline for conservation and restoration of traditional ships in operation - In 2007 the participation in the green paper process for a future maritime policy in Europe with recommendations for a EU Maritime Policy regarding the support and safeguarding of maritime heritage.

Actions to be taken The acknowledgement must now be shared that traditional ships in operation do preserve the maritime heritage and address a significant public interest. - National governments should acknowledge the concept of a traditional ship in their legislation in order to facilitate the registration and regulation of those vessels in accordance with their special status. - An EU Maritime Policy should be drafted based on existing national regulations for traditional ships. The Baltic sail conference calls on all responsble persons and authorities to, - Use their influence to solve the problem of the acceptance of national regulations for traditional ships (on international voyages), The Wilhelmshaven MoU provides a guideline for a common minimum standard for traditional ships in operation which should be the base of an EU Maritime Policy - Use their influence to urge governments to work together to establish a European Maritime Policy for traditional ships. Holger Bellgardt Chairman of the Baltic Sail Conference Roland Methling Mayor of Hanseatic City of Rostock Per Jessing Chairman of European Maritime Heritage

See for declaration in PDF

EMH sent a letter to the European Commission as a response to their consultation on reduced VAT rates.
5/9/2008

In respons of the EU Consultation paper EMH sent their advice to the European Commission.

Click for the EU consultation paper.
Click for EMH letter

Proceedings Rotterdam Congress 'Sailing into Europe's future' available
11/9/2007

The proceedings of the 6th EMH Congress is available and may be purchased from the EMH Office: Dijkweg 222, 1619 JC Andijk, the Netherlands, Tel/Fax 0031 228 593 136. Email: thedo @ wxs.nl

€ 15 + mailing costs

EMH response to European Green Paper
6/29/2007

EMH sent the final version of the respons to the European Green Paper to the European Commission's Maritime Policy Task Force.

text EMH Response Green Paper

EMH presentation in Bremen
5/3/2007

EMH was invited for the European consultation conference of the German Presidency and the Commission on the Maritime Policy Green Paper in Bremen. Hon.President Anders Berg showed the updated version of EMH policy: "Europe's Maritime Future is founded in Europe's Maritime Heritage"

text of Anders Bergs' presentation
pictures of the EMH presentation

EMH Triennial Congress in Rotterdam: great success
4/18/2007

The sixth EMH Congress in Rotterdam hosted by the Havenmuseum was a great succes. The first day started with a harbour tour and the start of the "Race of the Classics" on a hot day in April. The congress was attended by participants of 15 countries and around 30 presentations about aspects of the maritime heritage were given. Most presentations where focussed on the European Commission’s year-long consultation process on its Green Paper entitled "Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas". The head of this EU Maritime Task Force Mr. John Richardson concluded with the words "maritime unity in diversity" expressing the main content of these congress.

opening speech of the president Michael vom Baur of the EMH Congress Rotterdam
text Rotterdam Declaration

Signing Memorandum of Understanding
11/28/2005

News from the Safety Council. In the House of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects in London maritime authorities signed the Memorandum of Understanding. Representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom were in London to sign this renewed memorandum. United kingdom is for 2005 and 2006 the Chair of the Committee of the Memorandum. Thanks to the active role of David W. Ralph this document is updated en revised.

Barcelona Charter available as booklet
12/1/2004

The Barcelona Charter – European Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Traditional Ships in Operation – is now available as a booklet. The Barcelona Charter was created by European Maritime Heritage (EMH) as a code of best practice and minimum standard for conservation and restoration of vessels to be recognized as traditional ships in operation.

The creation of the Barcelona Charter was inspired by the Venice Charter of 1964, stating the principles for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites ashore. The text of the preamble of the Venice Charter is fully valid also for vessels of historical significance, and it says: Imbued with a message from the past, the historic monuments of generations of people remain to the present day as living witnesses of their age-old traditions. People are becoming more and more conscious of the unity of human values and regard ancient monuments as a common heritage. The common responsibility to safeguard them for future generations is recognized. It is our duty to hand them on in the full richness of their authenticity.

The Barcelona Charter may be ordered via your local book shop. Bibliographic information: Heidbrink, Ingo (Ed.) The “Barcelona Charter” Publishing House: H. M. Hauschild Bremen. ISBN 3-89757-253-2. Price: € 3,- in Germany (€ 3,10 in other countries) + shipping and handling. The Barcelona Charter may also be viewed on the EMH website. The EMH is the European non-governmental organisation for owners of traditional ships in operation. Its members consist of national and regional associations of owners of traditional ships in operation, maritime museums, and other private bodies and organisations which support the preservation of the European maritime heritage. The EMH may be contacted through the EMH Secretary’s office.

Anders Berg nominated as Honorary President
7/31/2004

During the General Assembly, held in Karlskrona 31 July 2004 Arne Gotved paid tribute to the huge contribution to EMH made by Anders Berg, both as our Secretary from 1994 and more recently as President, from which position Anders had now retired. In the name of the General Assembly, Arne Gotved now invited Andere Berg to accept the position of Honorary President, adding that Jacques Chauveau, the first holder of that high office, would have been proud to see it occupied by Anders. Amid acclamation, Anders Berg accepted the office of Honorary President/President d’Honneur.

Anders Berg just after his nomination, a long time speechless before he could answer…

Signing Barcelona Charter
4/3/2003

On board of the Frigate "Jylland" in Ebeltoft (Denmark) the President of EMH Anders Berg and the Chairman of the EMH Cultural Council Arne Gotved signed Sunday 30th March 2003 the official excepted text of the Barcelona Charter.

Anders Berg (left) and Arne Gotved (right).