HELP US REPAINT SULA LIGHTSHIP ⚓
Donation protected
WWW.SULALIGHTSHIP.COM | @LV14SULALIGHTSHIP | #PAINTSULARED
/ OVERVIEW
Since February 2020, we have been restoring the magnificent LV14 SULA Lightship; a 62-year-old vessel that was stationed in the North Sea (1959 - 1985) protecting mariners on a popular shipping route. The next phase of our project is the most exciting - to return SULA to her former glory by repainting her in the original ship's colour, Ensign Red. She is the second most photographed landmark in Gloucester and much-loved by the Gloucester Docks community.
Our motivation for restoring SULA is to preserve her for future generations and to open her to the public for special events.
WHAT - Repaint LV14 SULA Lightship
WHEN - Commencing July 2021
WHERE - Gloucester Docks, UK
HOW - Painting will be undertaken by the SULA Crew and our Volunteers
Please, donate today and help us preserve this unique, historic vessel.
/ SULA'S STORY
LV14 SULA is a nationally registered historic Lightvessel moored in Britain's most inland port of Gloucester, the cathedral city in the picturesque Cotswolds. Formerly named SPURN, LV14 was commissioned and built on behalf of the Humber Conservancy Board (HCB) in the late 1950s. She has a fascinating history, from being operational in the turbulent North Sea (1959 - 1985), to touring Great Britain with numerous owners and being saved from the scrap yard more than once.
Officially titled LV14 HCB SPURN, she was stationed on the Spurn Sandbank, Humber Estuary in the North Sea to protect mariners for 26 years. Weighing 590 tonnes, the vessel is 114ft (34.7m) long and 26ft (8m) wide. She was operated by a crew of seven; a Master, two engineers, a wireless operator and three deck-hands on a two-week shift pattern. On Christmas Eve, 1985, LV14 was sadly decommissioned and replaced by a navigational buoy as part of a cost saving exercise.
Three years after decommissioning, LV14 became a temporary home for the Guernsey Yacht Club in the Channel Islands and was renamed BEAUCETTE. In 1990, she moved to Conwy, North Wales and later to Milford Haven in South Wales, where she was given the names CONWY and HAVEN respectively. Here, LV14 served as an historic museum.
In 1997, the ship was sold to Irish tourism investors but was eventually laid up in Waterford, from 2001 to 2007, waiting for a new lease of life. Rescued in 2007 by Jan and Agnes van der Elsen, LV14 (now named SPURN again) was towed to Sharpness for 3 years of renovation before mooring at Gloucester Docks as a Therapy Centre in 2010. It is during this time that she was renamed SULA, meaning 'little peace'.
We (the Brooks Family) purchased SULA in February 2020, and since this time we have spent a year restoring and transforming the vessel. Her new legacy began on 1 October with the launch of The Humber Suite, a private luxury guest suite at the Bow of the vessel. The Old Engine Room, on the lower deck, is currently being renovated to provide a large flexible event space, available to hire by the community.
/ THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
We intend to begin SULA's repaint by focusing on the superstructure, i.e. everything from the main deck upwards. Thankfully, the undercoat is 90% intact, hence we'd like to get the paintwork started before it deteriorates. Specifically:
LIGHT TOWER
SULA's defining feature is her light tower, which stands 55ft above water level. Access to the lantern house is via a narrow, near vertical ladder. Sitting at the top is a rare Fresnel Lens (one of only a couple remaining in the world onboard a lightship) on which we have done extensive restoration.
// This was such a proud moment for us when LV14 SULA Lightship shone for the first time in over 20 years! We delicately restored the rotating Fresnel Lens, known as 'the invention that saved a million ships', and cast a live stream watched by followers all over the world.
// The tower has suffered significant weather damage and will require scaffolding to paint safely.
// Compression tank, originally used to power the diaphone Foghorn which sits atop the Wheel House.
// The Upper Deck is open to the elements, hence the water damage seen here, which has enabled the steel to rust.
THE BOW
In October 2020 we launched 'The Humber Suite'. A luxury, self-contained guest suite with 2 cosy cabins, a walk-in shower room and stylish lounge-kitchen-diner, with everything visitors need to feel home from home. Located at the Bow, the external paintwork here has faded to various shades of pink!
// Aerial view of the Bow Decks (upper and lower), Foghorn roof and Light Tower. Image courtesy of Travels with Rosie.
// View of the Bow from the Upper Deck (or Sun Deck as it is known to our Humber Suite guests!). Note the off-yellow patches of exposed primer.
// The interior sides of the superstructure are severely weathered, hence the numerous shades of pink.
// The worst of the water damage can be seen where the superstructure meets the deck and is the case in many places around the Lower Deck.
THE STERN
This is the residential end of the lightship, otherwise known as 'home'! Looking through the portholes you will see our cosy lounge with a steep ladder staircase down to our bedroom and the original crew cabins. Much like the Bow, the paintwork has faded to pink, and sections have blown, exposing the undercoat.
// Drone image of the Stern Decks (upper and lower), Lifeboat and Flag Mast. Image courtesy of Travels with Rosie.
// Note the weathered pink (left) and protected red (right) of our lounge superstructure.
// Guess where the ladder to the Upper Deck used to be! Intriguingly, the differences in paint leave clues to SULA's changes over the years.
/ FUNDING BREAKDOWN
£3,250 | International Paint - Ensign Red, Mid-Brunswick Green, Black and Primer
£250 | Brushes, rollers, cleaning materials etc.
£2,500 | Scaffolding hire for the light tower
£6,000 | TOTAL
/ DONATIONS BY POST
We appreciate not everyone is comfortable with online transactions. If you would prefer to send your donation by post, kindly use the following address:
LV14 SULA
Llanthony Wharf
Llanthony Road
Gloucester
GL2 5HH
ENGLAND
UK
Google Map:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=51.860017,-2.255244&z=16&t=m&hl=en&gl=GB&mapclient=embed&cid=13142756600933877985
/ SHARING IS CARING!
The success of any crowd funding campaign is largely reliant on reaching as wide an audience as possible. It is therefore, with sincere appreciation, that we request you to share our profile far and wide. You can be part of preserving a unique part of English maritime history, whether by donating your pennies or simply sharing our cause with friends, family and beyond.
You may like to visit our website to discover more about SULA's history and see the photographs of her ongoing restoration www.sulalightship.com
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @LV14SULALightship to keep up to date with our campaign. Don't forget to use #PAINTSULARED to tag us in your reposts!
Thank you, one and all!
- SULA Crew
/ OVERVIEW
Since February 2020, we have been restoring the magnificent LV14 SULA Lightship; a 62-year-old vessel that was stationed in the North Sea (1959 - 1985) protecting mariners on a popular shipping route. The next phase of our project is the most exciting - to return SULA to her former glory by repainting her in the original ship's colour, Ensign Red. She is the second most photographed landmark in Gloucester and much-loved by the Gloucester Docks community.
Our motivation for restoring SULA is to preserve her for future generations and to open her to the public for special events.
WHAT - Repaint LV14 SULA Lightship
WHEN - Commencing July 2021
WHERE - Gloucester Docks, UK
HOW - Painting will be undertaken by the SULA Crew and our Volunteers
Please, donate today and help us preserve this unique, historic vessel.
/ SULA'S STORY
LV14 SULA is a nationally registered historic Lightvessel moored in Britain's most inland port of Gloucester, the cathedral city in the picturesque Cotswolds. Formerly named SPURN, LV14 was commissioned and built on behalf of the Humber Conservancy Board (HCB) in the late 1950s. She has a fascinating history, from being operational in the turbulent North Sea (1959 - 1985), to touring Great Britain with numerous owners and being saved from the scrap yard more than once.
Officially titled LV14 HCB SPURN, she was stationed on the Spurn Sandbank, Humber Estuary in the North Sea to protect mariners for 26 years. Weighing 590 tonnes, the vessel is 114ft (34.7m) long and 26ft (8m) wide. She was operated by a crew of seven; a Master, two engineers, a wireless operator and three deck-hands on a two-week shift pattern. On Christmas Eve, 1985, LV14 was sadly decommissioned and replaced by a navigational buoy as part of a cost saving exercise.
Three years after decommissioning, LV14 became a temporary home for the Guernsey Yacht Club in the Channel Islands and was renamed BEAUCETTE. In 1990, she moved to Conwy, North Wales and later to Milford Haven in South Wales, where she was given the names CONWY and HAVEN respectively. Here, LV14 served as an historic museum.
In 1997, the ship was sold to Irish tourism investors but was eventually laid up in Waterford, from 2001 to 2007, waiting for a new lease of life. Rescued in 2007 by Jan and Agnes van der Elsen, LV14 (now named SPURN again) was towed to Sharpness for 3 years of renovation before mooring at Gloucester Docks as a Therapy Centre in 2010. It is during this time that she was renamed SULA, meaning 'little peace'.
We (the Brooks Family) purchased SULA in February 2020, and since this time we have spent a year restoring and transforming the vessel. Her new legacy began on 1 October with the launch of The Humber Suite, a private luxury guest suite at the Bow of the vessel. The Old Engine Room, on the lower deck, is currently being renovated to provide a large flexible event space, available to hire by the community.
/ THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
We intend to begin SULA's repaint by focusing on the superstructure, i.e. everything from the main deck upwards. Thankfully, the undercoat is 90% intact, hence we'd like to get the paintwork started before it deteriorates. Specifically:
LIGHT TOWER
SULA's defining feature is her light tower, which stands 55ft above water level. Access to the lantern house is via a narrow, near vertical ladder. Sitting at the top is a rare Fresnel Lens (one of only a couple remaining in the world onboard a lightship) on which we have done extensive restoration.
// This was such a proud moment for us when LV14 SULA Lightship shone for the first time in over 20 years! We delicately restored the rotating Fresnel Lens, known as 'the invention that saved a million ships', and cast a live stream watched by followers all over the world.// The tower has suffered significant weather damage and will require scaffolding to paint safely.// Compression tank, originally used to power the diaphone Foghorn which sits atop the Wheel House.// The Upper Deck is open to the elements, hence the water damage seen here, which has enabled the steel to rust.THE BOW
In October 2020 we launched 'The Humber Suite'. A luxury, self-contained guest suite with 2 cosy cabins, a walk-in shower room and stylish lounge-kitchen-diner, with everything visitors need to feel home from home. Located at the Bow, the external paintwork here has faded to various shades of pink!
// Aerial view of the Bow Decks (upper and lower), Foghorn roof and Light Tower. Image courtesy of Travels with Rosie.// View of the Bow from the Upper Deck (or Sun Deck as it is known to our Humber Suite guests!). Note the off-yellow patches of exposed primer.// The interior sides of the superstructure are severely weathered, hence the numerous shades of pink.// The worst of the water damage can be seen where the superstructure meets the deck and is the case in many places around the Lower Deck. THE STERN
This is the residential end of the lightship, otherwise known as 'home'! Looking through the portholes you will see our cosy lounge with a steep ladder staircase down to our bedroom and the original crew cabins. Much like the Bow, the paintwork has faded to pink, and sections have blown, exposing the undercoat.
// Drone image of the Stern Decks (upper and lower), Lifeboat and Flag Mast. Image courtesy of Travels with Rosie.// Note the weathered pink (left) and protected red (right) of our lounge superstructure.// Guess where the ladder to the Upper Deck used to be! Intriguingly, the differences in paint leave clues to SULA's changes over the years./ FUNDING BREAKDOWN
£3,250 | International Paint - Ensign Red, Mid-Brunswick Green, Black and Primer
£250 | Brushes, rollers, cleaning materials etc.
£2,500 | Scaffolding hire for the light tower
£6,000 | TOTAL
/ DONATIONS BY POST
We appreciate not everyone is comfortable with online transactions. If you would prefer to send your donation by post, kindly use the following address:
LV14 SULA
Llanthony Wharf
Llanthony Road
Gloucester
GL2 5HH
ENGLAND
UK
Google Map:
https://www.google.com/maps?ll=51.860017,-2.255244&z=16&t=m&hl=en&gl=GB&mapclient=embed&cid=13142756600933877985
/ SHARING IS CARING!
The success of any crowd funding campaign is largely reliant on reaching as wide an audience as possible. It is therefore, with sincere appreciation, that we request you to share our profile far and wide. You can be part of preserving a unique part of English maritime history, whether by donating your pennies or simply sharing our cause with friends, family and beyond.
You may like to visit our website to discover more about SULA's history and see the photographs of her ongoing restoration www.sulalightship.com
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @LV14SULALightship to keep up to date with our campaign. Don't forget to use #PAINTSULARED to tag us in your reposts!
Thank you, one and all!
- SULA Crew
Organizer and beneficiary
Kimmy Seville
Organizer
England
Vivienne Brooks
Beneficiary
