Summary
Saved from destruction under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 to promote sustainable fishing in the Mediterranean, the fishing trawler Lambousa was adopted by Municipality of Limassol in 2004 an example of Cyprus’ fishing and maritime heritage. It is now the last of its class in existence and was refitted as Cyprus’ first floating museum in 2024.
The decision by the Municipality of Limassol to restore the Lambousa to its former glory was made in 2022. Previously the boat had been a popular tourist attraction but suffered exposure to the sea and sun, storm damage and vandalism leading to increased concern over its sea worthiness. Following a survey in 2019 The boat was moved to the Karnagio shipyard area in Limassol, for external and internal restoration in 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying work on its restoration could take place. Work was completed in 2024 and the Lambousa was selected as one of the official heritage objects representing Cyprus in the Europeana’s pan-European TwinIT! campaign.
The UNESCO Chair on Digital Cultural Heritage at Cyprus University of Technology’s (CUT) Digital Heritage Research Lab (DHRLab) and its partners undertook to record the monument as part of a joint training exercise under the EU-Funded ERA Chair MNEMOSYNE project. The original data from the digitisiation has now been processed to provide a 3D CAD reference model using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (based on HBIM principles) aiding conservators and museum planners in the maintenance and protection of the boat as part of the EUreka3D project. The model, and its accompanying data, will be made available though Europeana using the EUreka3D Data Hub to the public and will be further developed to engage audiences and cultural tourists with the history and significance of the Lambousa and the maritime heritage of Cyprus, incorporating both tangible and intangible heritage assets into compelling narratives using digital technologies.
The portfolio of images can be downloaded here as a .PDF binder
Naval Architectural Drawings Gallery
