HMS Belfast's masts: 11 Sep 2010

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11 Sep 2010: Russian team help repair HMS Belfast's masts 'as war thank you'

Report from 2010: a team of Russian contractors had travelled to Britain to help repair the HMS Belfast to its former glory as part of a “thank you” for its services during the Second World War

The 11 workers from St Petersburg are undertaking the £250,000 project to install two new masts on the warship in gratitude for her service to Russia in defeating the Nazis.

But in recent years her foremast and mainmast have become badly corroded and needed to be replaced. A project to repair the corrosion and replace the masts stalled due to cost.

But three Russian companies, OPK, Severstal and Sovcomflot, pledged money earlier this year. The announcement was made on the same day that Russian commemorative medals were awarded to 15 former sailors on HMS Belfast.

LINK: www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/7995179/Russian-team-help-repair-HMS-Belfasts-masts-as-war-thank-you.html

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From Oct 2010: One of London’s most famous landmarks, HMS Belfast, last week unveiled a major Russo-British restoration project, designed to restore the ship to her former glory

While attempts to press the reset button in Moscow were hampered by seemingly entrenched positions, Russian goodwill was on display at a less rarified level, as ordinary Britons and Russians shared a poignant moment of fellowship on the waters of the Thames.

There, in the presence of Arctic Convoy veterans from both countries, and with assorted dignitaries – including the Duke of Edinburgh and Russian presidential administration head Sergey Naryshkin – looking on, a team of Russian shipbuilders saw their labour of love come to fruition, as Belfast revealed her newly built masts.

LINK: www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/rbth/features/8089700/Russian-workers-to-help-restore-British-Navy-cruiser-HMS-Belfast.html