The Royal Navy may hand over HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship on which he met his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, to a charity or a government department.| Sorta like handing over the USS Constitution ... |
The range of options that the Ministry of Defence is putting out for consultation are leaving the Victory with the Navy, public ownership by another government department or public body, setting up a new charity for the ship or using an existing one.
Baroness Taylor of Bolton, a Defence minister, said that the ship needed "extensive works" to ensure its preservation for generations to come. Vice-Admiral Alan Massey, the Second Sea Lord, said that the Victory was "a vital part of our heritage" and that the MoD was committed to securing her future.