The annual Flagship of the Year Awards provide an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public, through online activities, museum engagement, events, open days and special tours.  Flagships promote the role of NHS-UK and ‘fly the flag’ as ambassadors for the UK’s maritime heritage sector.  

2025 Flagships

Operational Flagship of the Year: Barnabas 
Operational Flagship of the Year: Sir Walter Scott
Operational Flagship of the Year: Llanthony
Operational Flagship of the Year: Dane
Barnabas Flagship ceremony
Sir Walter Scott Flagship ceremony
Llanthony Flagship ceremony
Dane Flagship ceremony

2024 Flagships

National Flagship of the Year: Waverley
Operational Flagship of the Year: Challenge
Operational Flagship of the Year: Provident
Static Flagship of the Year: Lady Daphne
Waverley team standing in line on board the ship and presenting the flag they've received as the Flagship of the Year
Challenge being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Provident being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Lady Daphne being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award

2023 Flagships

Operational Flagship of the Year: Swan
Operational Flagship of the Year: Lady of the Lake
Operational Flagship of the Year: The Chieftain
Static Flagship of the Year: HMS Caroline
Static Flagship of the Year: LV21
Static Flagship of the Year: Marjorie R
Lady of the Lake being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
The Chieftain being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
HMS Caroline being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
LV21 being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Swan being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Marjorie R being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award

2022 Flagships

Operational Flagship of the Year: M.V. Glenachulish
Operational Flagship of the Year: Princess Marina
Operational Flagship of the Year: Foxtrot 8 
Virtual Flagship of the Year: Arctic Corsair
MV Glenachulish being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Princess Marina being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Foxtrot 8 fully dressed
Arctic Corsair in dry dock

2021 Flagships

Operational Flagship of the Year: Breda
Static Flagship of the Year: Tall Ship Glenlee
Virtual Flagship of the Year: LV50 H.Y. Tyne 
Breda being presented with the Flagship of the Year Award
Tall Ship Glenlee on the water
LV50 H.Y. Tyne moored up

2020 Flagships (no ceremonies held due to Covid-19 pandemic)

National Flagship of the Year: HMS Belfast
Regional Flagship of the Year (North): Tall Ship Zebu
Regional Flagship of the Year (South East): Medway Queen
Regional Flagship of the Year (Scotland East): SS Explorer
Regional Flagship of the Year (Scotland West): Spartan
HMS Belfast, starboard bow view
Zebu under full sail, port bow view
Medway Queen, starboard bow view
SS Explorer, port bow view
Spartan, port side view

2019 Flagships

Regional Flagship of the Year (Scotland): Isabella Fortuna
Regional Flagship of the Year (Thames Estuary): Kitty
Regional Flagship of the Year (South West): Kingswear Castle
Crew of Isabella Fortuna pennant presentation
SB Kitty pennant presentation
Kingswear Castle pennant presentation

2018 Flagships

National Flagship of the Year: St. Joan
Regional Flagship of the Year (North West): Gondola
Regional Flagship of the Year (Solent): SS Shieldhall
St Joan pennant presentation
SY Gondola, port side view
SS Shieldhall pennant presentation

2017 Flagships

Regional Flagship of the Year (North West): Daniel Adamson
Regional Flagship of the Year (Solent): Caronia
Regional Flagship of the Year (South West): Our Daddy
Regional Flagship of the Year (East Anglia): Reminder   
Daniel Adamson pennant presentation
Caronia pennant presentation
Our Daddy, starboard side view
Reminder pennant hoist

2016 Flagships

National Flagship of the Year: MV Balmoral 
Regional Flagship of the Year (Merseyside): Kennet
Regional Flagship of the Year (East): Excelsior
MV Balmoral, starboard bow view
Kennet, port aft view
Excelsior under full sail, port side view

2015 Flagships

National Flagship of the Year: Irene
Regional Flagship of the Year (Thames): Havengore
Regional Flagship of the Year (Solent): HMS Medusa 
Regional Flagship of the Year (East Anglia): Thistle
Irene under full sail, starboard side view
Havengore pennant presentation
HMS Medusa pennant hoist
SB Thistle, port bow view

2014 Flagship

National Flagship of the Year: Daybreak
Runner-Up: Reaper 
Daybreak pennant presentation
Reaper under sail, starboard bow view

2013 Flagship

Award not made in 2013

2012 Flagship

National Flagship of the Year: Edith May
Edith May, port side view

2011 Flagship

National Flagship of the Year: Swan
Swan under full sail, starboard side view

2010 Flagship

National Flagship of the Year: Sheemaun
Runner-Up: Albion 
Sheemaun pennant presentation
Albion under sail, port side view

2009 Flagship

National Flagship of the Year: SS Shieldhall 
SS Shieldhall pennant presentation