VISITORS to Newport's new theatre and arts centre will be able to view the city's medieval ship at close quarters as part of the multi-million-pound plans to permanently site the ship at the Riverfront.

The £3.5m scheme to display the ship is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the Riverfront, although it could be another ten years before the ship is reconstructed, and put on permanent display. The ship will be located in a 280-metre-square basement, four metres deep beneath the ground-floor gallery and main foyer of the theatre and arts centre.

It will allow visitors to the centre to see the vessel at various levels and get a close-up view of the side of the ship.

A purpose-built interpretation gallery will be created alongside the ship, digital technology will be used to show a recreation of the vessel as it was in its heyday, and show the lives and times of the people who used it. Artifacts found during the excavation will also be displayed.

The scheme is expected to cost £3,465,000, which includes an estimated £1,364,000 for construction of the ship and the work to discover its history, and a further £1.5m to treat the timbers.

Newport council and the National Assembly are planning a joint approach to the National Lottery Heritage Board to help fund the treatment and preservation of the timbers.

To date £600,000 of public money has been allocated to enable the excavation and recording work to take place and to cover the costs of construction delays.

Simon Rutherford, from the Friends of the Newport Ship, said: "The Friends are happy to see the opening of the Riverfront, and are working with Newport council to ensure the research, conservation and display of the Newport ship in Newport.

"We would be happy to see the ship reconstructed in a suitable venue. In the meantime, it would be a good opportunity to display the Barlands Farm Romano Celtic Boat," (recovered in Magor a decade ago).

The ship's timbers are currently stored in a 2,500- square-metre unit in what is the largest wood conservation site in the UK.

The Mary Rose Trust is leading the ship's reconstruction, and open days are planned so the public can see the conservation work in progress.