Willbox, part of the Williams Shipping Group, have proudly delivered a refurbished booking office container to Steamship Shieldhall's berth in Southampton as part of their continuing support for local projects.

Passengers welcomed aboard

Shieldhall is a familiar sight in the Solent, where her passengers can experience the golden age of steam on the largest working steamship in Britain. “The Welcome Terminal is passengers' first physical introduction to the ship, so it is important that the whole experience is one of quality as they step aboard our magnificent link to the past,” says Trustee of the Steamship Shieldhall Charity Graham Mackenzie.Willbox has continued to support Shieldhall over many years, including providing the original welcome terminal container in 2013. Newly refurbished, the container will now provide a secure and friendly welcome to visitors embarking at her permanent berth at Southampton Docks.“We are delighted to receive such practical help from Willbox,” says Mackenzie. “Shieldhall is run, maintained and managed entirely by volunteers, so it makes a huge difference when local companies step in to help. A huge Thank You to Willbox for doing this work for us!”

A Member of the National Historic Fleet

Shieldhall serves as a sea-going tribute to Britain's maritime heritage, a unique time capsule providing a working example of steamship machinery both above and below deck. Launched on the Clyde in 1955, she is typical of the cargo and passenger ships that plied the oceans of the world from the 1870s until the mid-1960s, by which time they were all but extinct.  Shieldhall was effectively obsolete mechanically at the time of her launch, as the diesel engine was coming into its own.Since she was laid up in Southampton in 1985, Southampton City Museum Services and The Heritage Lottery Fund have supported private individuals and teams of volunteers in their work to preserve and refurbish her - the Steamship Shieldhall Charity now has responsibility for all aspects of preserving and operating the ship, including fundraising.

Support SS Shieldhall

Volunteer crews provide vital support to the charity, allowing visitors to be welcomed aboard for a full sea-going experience. Shieldhall is available for private charter, or for hire as a venue alongside in Southampton, and offers a variety of courses for youth groups and steam enthusiasts. Passengers can admire the original steam engines, traditional instruments and gleaming brasswork whilst enjoying the on-board shop and saloon with licensed bar and meal service.The refurbished Welcome Terminal is now in place ready to welcome passengers back to a full schedule of themed cruises aboard SS Shieldhall from May 2021.

Versatile Containers from Willbox

Willbox has over 25 years' experience in shipping container hire and shipping container sales and is renowned for its excellent customer service and professionalism.“We are continually impressed by the huge range of uses customers find for our containers,” says Andy Wilkins, Sales Manager at Willbox. “This type of secure, moveable facility is perfect for the location on Southampton Docks, and we are pleased to have been able to help SS Shieldhall continue to provide great experiences to our local community.”Willbox has depots across the country, and with a dedicated fleet of delivery vehicles can deliver containers quickly to almost any location.For more information or to speak to a member of the team please call 0800 023 5060 or email enquiries@willbox.co.uk and we look forward to assisting you.