FUNDS from a Government lifeline grant will be used for a Maldon project to help train apprentices in the methods of restoring, maintaining and operating historic boats.

The Heritage Marine Foundation, based in the Downs Road boatyard, will put the £17,500 grant cash towards obtaining and converting a drydock to house Torbay Lass, a 1923 fishing trawler owned by the foundation.

The restoration itself will be used to equip young apprentices with the conservation skills that are fast vanishing but are vital to maintaining Britain's historic fleet. Maldon has a concentration of these skills and is home to a thriving community of historic boats, a rare combination. Heritage Marine Foundation aims to ensure that these skills are preserved, while giving young people the opportunity to develop careers and opportunities.

The foundation, based in the Downs Road boatyard, is one of 77 heritage organisations to receive a slice of the latest £14million funding from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). The grant is from The Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage.

Maddie Phillips, Operations Manager at Heritage Marine Foundation, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to receive this funding amongst such stiff competition."

Heritage Marine Foundation is currently raising money to carry out a full restoration to bring Torbay Lass back to her original layout as a working boat, and to use her as a travelling museum and classroom to teach the public about Britain's maritime heritage, and why it is important to protect it for future generations.

Among the many marine heritage restoration projects listed on the Foundation's website are the inspection survey and drawing up a refit specification for the Thames Sailing Barge Pudge, now being restored by Maldon-based Shipwright Kevin Finch at Fullbridge and the detailed survey, restoration plan, and planning application for the ceremonial mast from HMS Ganges, based at Shotley in Suffolk.

Heritage Marine Foundation are also currently undertaking the construction of a new steel yacht which was commissioned as a training project for their apprentices. The yacht is called Lærling, which means "apprentice" in