The project aims at defining and enhancing seafaring heritage by examples of historic ships and sites as a cultural vantage point for a more preserving spatial development. Local public-private partnership co-operations are to support some of the sites; an increase of tourism and a methodology for better integration of cultural heritage into spatial (urban) planning are also envisaged.

The project is aimed at the creative rehabilitation, protection and development of cultural and natural landscapes and townscapes. This will be accomplished through integrated spatial planning, with a focus on seafaring heritage.

Expected Outcomes

North SEAfaring will positively influence future investment in seafaring heritage. This will then enable coastal settlements to find new economies and social foci, both protecting and developing their maritime cultural heritage. Tools for integrated spatial planning will be developed and applied at different levels to combine tourism opportunities with the ongoing economic activity of seafaring. Actual physical change will be delivered at selected sites during the project lifetime. Individual case studies will be used in the production of a good practice guide.

Activities

A Transnational Forum will mark the project start-up. Development and creative rehabilitation of heritage will then be the main focus. In the participating towns, ships will be restored and visitor centres constructed. For each project site, a regional spatial strategy will be developed. The five main sites are: - Colchester (UK), where a seafaring museum will be designed and exhibits purchased and subsequently restored, and ten heritage open days will be staged; - Emden (D), where the shipyard and visitor centre will be reconstructed, as well as a ?Tjalk?; - Uitgeest (NL), where a sawmill will be reconstructed and a visitor centre built; - Oostend (B), where a visitor centre will be designed and the ?Paster Pype? restored; - Lowestoft (UK), where specialist machinery for the manufacture of boat-construction materials will be purchased, visitor facilities installed and long distance sailing routes developed and evaluated. For two further sites, Dundee (UK) and Vlissingen (NL), a spatial strategy will be developed as well. A website, newsletters and a concluding conference complete the project.

Reported Outcomes

The reconstruction of historic maritime heritage sites in the North Sea region serves as additional tourist attractions and support economic development. Through the transnational approach, project partners of NorthSEAfaring have succeeded in gathering together traditional skills and crafts to restore historic port infra-structure such as the reconstruction of the "tjalk", a traditional vessel type in Emden (G). Once completed in its original design, the vessel will finally be allowed to carry passengers. The launching of the reconstructed vessel "tjalk" in Emden has attracted large public interest. The project aims at defining and enhancing seafaring heritage by examples of historic ships and sites as a cultural vantage point for a more preserving spatial development. Local public-private partnership co-operations are to support some of the sites; an increase of tourism and a methodology for better integration of cultural heritage into spatial (urban) planning are also envisaged. North SEAfaring also aims to raise cultural awareness and public access through the protection and restoration of maritime heritage, countering the tendency of planners to privatise areas which could otherwise be opened up to the public. On conclusion of the project, North SEAfaring will present in a best practice guide a set of general principles relevant to all Europe?s coastal regions.