FSP21 – the Future Ship Project for the 21st century – will create the largest and most modern square-rigged education and adventure training and research sailing ship in the world. FSP21 will be a flagship for the nation.

Known as the University of the Oceans, the project will be aimed predominantly at young people, with the intention of helping them to explore and experience the world around them. The ship will provide outstanding environmental research facilities and will become a prestigious and unique international maritime academy. In addition to this about 20 scientists will be embarked to work with the young people.

Pioneered by David Bawtree and with support from all the major sail training organizations FSP21 is the flagship we, as a Maritime Nation, deserve. With centuries as a major force to be reckoned with afloat and with so much of our tradition and folklore fashioned by the sea it seems only right that we should have a ship to fly the British Flag around the Globe as our Ambassador.

Over 500 ft in length and crewed by a mix of professional crew and young cadets the ship would function, in the main, as a sail training vessel but when in port it could serve as a base for heads of state and exhibitions to improve our Trade relations. Not since the days of HMS Britannia have we had a proper flagship and 3GL have been working behind the scenes to help to bring this project to fruition.

The University of the Oceans will provide unique opportunities for flexible and responsive education and adventure training programmes for over 1,000 young people a year:

• Those who leave school at 16.
• Those continuing at school after GCSEs.
• Those undertaking professional courses (NVQs, etc).
• Young people from youth and cadet organisations.
• Young people from industry.
• Under-graduates and graduates pursuing higher degrees.
• Trainees from the maritime industry.
• Those who aim to work in the sail training industry

The ship will provide high quality and flexible facilities for conferences and exhibitions, which will be entirely suited to national and international events.

Needing a considerable sum of money just to get to the next stage this is not a project that can be rushed to fruition but wouldn't it be amazing if we could have it in time for the Olympics in 2012. Anyone interested in getting involved or making a contribution to the fund should contact us and we can point you in the right direction.

http://www.universityoftheoceans.com/