THE EDWIN FOX: THE SECRET SHIP, YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF, AT THE OTHER END OF THE WORLD, PRESERVED AGAINST ALL ODDS BY A HANDFUL OF ENTHUSIASTIC TOWN LOCALS...

Abstract

The Edwin Fox ship, built in India in 1853, (Figure1) has many stories to tell, from its adventures on the high seas to how it came to rest in a small, amazing little town at the other end of the world from where it began its life. The Edwin Fox is not well known, yet its story is not only important to Picton, Marlborough, a Provence with a rich maritime heritage from the early Polynesian explorers to Captain Cook in 1770, [6] but to Aotearoa, (New Zealand) as a country, and indeedthe world, there is much to be learnt from the ship. The Edwin Fox is unlike any other historic ship due to the way the preservation of the ship was undertaken. It is one of the few historic ships in the world that people have been able to physically interact with. In this paper I hope to inform the audience of the history of the Edwin Fox with reference to the various RINA conference topics. I will showcase the importance and tenacity of volunteers, whom with passion and very little else, achieved remarkable outcomes while also highlighting some of the negative aspects. I will also highlight our present plight today with regards the ship preservation project and the need for expertise, particularly in the field of engineering given the complication of the ship being docked in an Earthquake prone area, making this a truly unique opportunity.