The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) in Portsmouth, UK, has announced a major evolution in the decade-long conservation of HMS Victory, marking the start of what is described as the ‘Most Dramatic’ stage of the ship’s £42 million restoration to date.
As the project, titled HMS Victory: The Big Repair, advances, the 260-year-old warship is set to be fully wrapped in a redesigned scaffolding structure. This new phase promises to revolutionise the visitor experience by offering unprecedented access to the vessel, including sightlines into areas that have remained hidden for generations.
Unprecedented Visitor Access
For the first time in the ship’s history, visitors will be granted a direct view into the inner workings of Nelson’s legendary flagship. The new infrastructure will allow the public to witness specialist teams as they prepare the bow and stern for critical conservation works.
The installation will feature two new viewing platforms at the stern, complementing the existing Victory Live: The Big Repair viewing points. According to the NMRN, these additions will allow visitors to “shake hands” with history, revealing construction details not seen since the original shipwrights built the vessel in the 18th century.
Beyond the views, the attraction is enhancing its immersive offerings. New museum displays will break down the complex layers of the ship to explain the repair process, while live demonstrations will showcase traditional shipbuilding skills, including hands-on caulking workshops.
Andrew Baines, Executive Director of Museum Operations for NMRN, emphasised the significance of the coming year:
“This is a bold new stage of the project, and 2026 is set to be the most exciting year yet. For the first time, visitors will have an uninterrupted view into the inner workings of the ship and the hugely impressive engineering and skilled work that goes into that. We’re going to reveal parts of Victory that were last seen by the 18th-century shipwrights who built her. It feels like we are shaking hands with that team from across the centuries.”
Engineering Feats and Technical Challenges
The project has already hit significant milestones. Throughout 2025, shipwrights focused on the starboard side, replacing large sections of rotten timber frames. In August, the team installed the 100th new “futtock” – the curved wooden ribs that form the ship’s frame.
As the final futtocks are installed, the project will shift focus in early 2026 to the replanking of the hull, effectively rebuilding the ship’s outer skin while internal repairs continue.
However, enabling the new full-height scaffolding presents a massive logistical challenge: the removal of Victory’s remaining masts. This operation is described as one of the most technically demanding elements of the entire conservation effort.
“Removing the masts is a huge job and a vital part of the project plan,” Baines explained. “We plan to do it all over one night, using very specialist equipment and knowledge, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right first time.”
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity
The NMRN describes this as a “once-in-a-generation” effort, noting that the scale of the work means the ship is unlikely to be opened up in this manner again for decades.
Baines highlighted the adaptive nature of the work: “Our highly-skilled archaeologists, conservation scientists, shipwrights and riggers are adapting our work every single day in response to discoveries and challenges, and we look forward to sharing Victory’s story with visitors as we continue to uncover more of her history.”
The scaffolding installation process is currently underway at the museum and will be completed in sections, with the final walkway expected to be in place by summer 2026.
Access to HMS Victory remains included in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard ticket, allowing guests to witness the evolving conservation work alongside the wider story of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar.
Images: Royal Navy / National Museum of the Royal Navy
