HISTORY OF EMH

From Network to an European Umbrella Organisation

The roots of EMH are in the first Common European Maritime Heritage Congress held at the Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum, Amsterdam in  1992, which was sponsored by EU-DG “Culture“ from the Caleidoscope-Program and also by the Dutch Ministry of Culture.

Part of the project were two surveys on a European scale:

• The ICOMOS survey:  Inventory on the existing laws and legislation for the upkeep of historical objects in the EU and Scandinavian countries

• The AGB Intomart Qualitatief survey: Historical ships and boats in Europe and their owners and organisations. (Both surveys were published in the proceedings of the 1^st CEMHC).

At this Congress representatives of owners and operators of traditional ships decided to establish an informal network and to organise a second Congress three years later. A „Steering Committee“ for the network was elected.

At the 2^nd  CEMHC, held 1995 in Rochefort, France, the decision was made to establish EMH as a full representative European Umbrella Organisation, the non-governmental organisation for private owners and operators of all operating Traditional Ships, but also for European branch associations for e.g. steam boats or sail training ships as well as for individual maritime museums and other interested bodies. The reason for this decision was the acknowledgement of ongoing „Europeanisation“ and „Internationalisation“ of policy, which required an effective lobby on the European stage. Examples for this requirement could be collected during the network years, especially on the field of ship safety. The Rules of EMH were drafted, membership fees were levied and the first Executive Committee was elected in Rochefort.

The third  Congress was held  in Helsingør, Denmark, in 1998 under the patronage of the Prince Consort of Denmark. This congress opened the dialogue and cooperation between EMH and the EU-Commission, DG“Transport“ on the field of ship safety. A keynote paper given by a EU-representative turned out to conform with EMHs policy to protect the existing different national safety rules and to organize their mutual acceptance. The idea of a common European approach on this basis, to be drafted by EMH for the EU was born, which later resulted in a project, partly sponsored by EU-DG 7 and the governments of Germany and Denmark.

Finally the 4^th CEMHC took place in 2001in our new Mediterranean Focus Point, the Museu Maritime Drassanes in Barcelona, in order to strengthen relations with this important Mediterranean area and to encourage South European owners and groups which are working in projects with focus on preserving and operating traditional ships.

EMH publishes a Newsletter 3-5 times per year in the English language. It is available also for politicians, interested supporters and friends.

(contact the publisher : Ole Vistrup at Danish Schooner Charter, Allégade 2, Bldg. 45, DK-3000 Helsingør, Fax: +45 49 26 07 41, e-mail:   ).

It can also be downloaded from this site. (EMH-newsletter)