The Edwin Fox is the oldest merchant ship in the world. Is Marlborough looking after it?

5:03 pm on 26 May 2022

By Maia Hart, local democracy reporter

The roof over the oldest merchant ship in the world leaks, and the walls of its dry dock let seawater in.

The Edwin Fox could be a “hero item” for promoting Picton’s maritime heritage, but it is facing “irreparable damage”. Photo: LDR / Maia Hart

And there are concerns the Edwin Fox, built in 1853, could be damaged beyond repair if its home on Picton's foreshore isn't repaired soon.

On top of that, the sprinkler system at the Edwin Fox Ship and Visitor Centre isn't up to scratch - that's the sprinkler system to protect the oldest surviving wooden ship that brought immigrants to New Zealand, when it was done being a merchant ship. And it was the last ship to transport convicts to Australia.

Marlborough Heritage Trust executive director Steve Austin said Marlborough was lucky to have the ship, but it was time to "step up" and invest in it.

Austin said the Edwin Fox was at the "centrepiece of international globalisation".

Evidence of water leaking into the Edwin Fox’s dry dock. Photo: LDR / Maia Hart

"I think if Picton is going to put its best foot forward, then its maritime heritage is really going to be the key brand for Picton into the future, and of course, the Edwin Fox is the hero item.

"We are very, very lucky to have it here in Marlborough. We just need to be able to step up and really take ownership of everything it can be and really see the investment because we are going to reap the rewards eventually."

The Marlborough Heritage Trust has asked the council in an annual plan submission for just over $30,000 to help fund a third of the total cost of bringing the ship and its dry dock up to spec. They needed a third in order to apply for funding through the Significant Lotteries Fund.

The Edwin Fox, built in 1853, is the last ship to transport convicts to Australia and the oldest merchant ship in the world. Photo: LDR / Maia Hart

"The Edwin Fox is no longer in a state to be refloated and any water in the dry dock represents potential irreparable damage," the submission said.

"The dry dock maintenance has been an ongoing concern since it was built in 1999."

The trust's submission outlined the various repair and maintenance works needed to bring the centre up to scratch.

The roof over the dry dock, built in 2000, had leaking panels which meant water was hitting the structure of the ship. It required replacing the panels and their fastenings and improving the downpipes.

The steel structure of the dry dock, which keeps water away from the ship, needs to be repaired.

The Edwin Fox is dry-docked on Picton’s foreshore. Photo: LDR / Maia Hart

The trust was also seeking to update the large signwriting on the roof, which was peeling, faded and "generally looking tired". The trust argued it would be "most prudent" to do the sign at the same time as the roof.

The submission also said the steel dry dock gate needed a concrete and epoxy wall to properly keep seawater out. A concrete wall would help mitigate for holes in the dry dock gate. However, the wall could be built, so it could be extended later to combat projected sea level rises, the submission said.

However, it said the sprinkler system needed to be updated first, as it no longer passed a building warrant of fitness, and in any case was only designed to protect the ship in a "very basic way".

"Displays have been updated (including the addition of cabins and bunk beds) so the design of the sprinkler system needs to be brought up-to-date," the submission said.

A new sign is expected to cost about $4000. Photo: LDR / Maia Hart

It said with the new ferry terminal expected to be constructed and the planned demolition of EcoWorld Aquarium next door, the dry dock would experience "considerable vibration". They had been working with Port Marlborough and Heritage New Zealand, but the risks still "compounded" the need for maintenance.

Quoted cost of repairs: