Scheduled for completion in March 2005, they will form part of a new museum due to be opened next year and consist of a Propeller Lifting Frame Interactive and a Tiller Interactive.

The former is a two-storey high structure which will let visitors get involved in the process of switching the ship from steam to wind power. This was done by lifting the propeller out of the water and the exhibit combines modern mechanical and electrical techniques with a 5m high, 17tonne lifting frame dating from 1857.

The Tiller Interactive – via a real-time computer generated environment – will put visitors in charge of steering what was the world’s first iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship. Beneath them will be a transparent deck with the tiller mechanism clearly visible and the exhibit will also combine genuine Victorian artefacts with replica items.

hb.source has undertaken contracts at similar sites in the UK in the past, including Chatham’s Historic Royal Dockyard, the Imperial War Museum, Kew Steam Museum and the National Football Museum.

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