The program for the restoration of the ship and the creation of a museum around it, developed by the fund-owner of the clipper in cooperation with the architect Nicholas Grimshaw, was to be completed this year. But in May 2007, the Cutty Sark was seriously damaged by fire, so its opening for visitors is postponed until 2010. At the same time, work on the restoration of the ship and the creation of a new museum structure around it continues. It is supposed to hang its hull on cables, and at the level of its waterline to install a glass ceiling, covering the dry dock, which has housed the ship since 1954 - when it was docked in Greenwich. Thus, a new exhibition space will be created under the Cutty Sark, which will also protect the wood of the clipper skin: while in the open dock, the ship was significantly damaged by rotting bacteria, and its metal parts were covered with rust.
Last year's fire became a serious obstacle to the implementation of the project: because of it, the program budget, which amounted to 25 million pounds, increased by another 10 million unforeseen initially.
But thanks to a £ 3.3m donation from Israeli philanthropist Sammi Ofer, who served in the British navy during World War II, the ship and museum will be reopened in spring 2010.
Ofer also donated £ 20 million to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for the construction of a new wing.
