As I take the helm at the Unicorn Preservation Society, I find myself in charge of a vessel not just in troubled waters but at genuine risk of being lost forever. HMS Unicorn, Scotland's oldest ship, is quite literally breaking apart.

Many visitors express genuine surprise when they discover that Scotland has one of the world's oldest warships. HMS Unicorn presents a curious sight on Dundee's waterfront with her masts removed shortly after her 1824 launch, replaced with a protective roof. This unique preservation measure was taken because peacetime meant this warship was never called into active service – a quirk of history that has helped her survive two centuries.

The stark reality is that this 200-year-old wooden structure faces a genuine existential threat. Our comprehensive surveys reveal alarming structural issues that can only be addressed through decisive intervention.

This is why........

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