A restoration project to breathe new life into the world's oldest complete steamship reached an important landmark on Monday as the SS Robin was lifted on to her new home.

Hayley Mace

A restoration project to breathe new life into the world's oldest complete steamship reached an important landmark yesterday as the SS Robin was lifted on to her new home.

Huge industrial cranes lifted the 120-year-old vessel from the slipway on Lowestoft's north quay on to the 50m long pontoon which is going to support the ship for years to come.

As well as being a base for the fragile steamship, the pontoon, made specially in Poland, is going to become the world's first purpose-built floating museum, telling the story of the merchant navy and the vessels, like SS Robin, which played an important role in developing Britain as a force in world trade.

Now that the SS Robin is on the pontoon, she will remain in Lowestoft until late July so that her rigging and funnel can be put in place before the whole structure is towed down to Harwich. David Kampfner, project director and co-founder of the SS Robin Trust, said: 'This is the first time I've seen her on the pontoon, and obviously she needs a few finishing touches, but she looks really amazing.

'She's an unsung hero, and the fact that she doesn't have guns or an illustrious captain means that hers is an honest story of hard work and that's the tale the museum will tell.'

It will take more than two years for the museum to be designed and fitted, and Mr Kampfner said he is hopeful that the museum will eventually find a permanent home on the River Thames in London.

'She will be in Harwich for the next six months, but after that she doesn't have a home. She is from London and, after �4m of investment, we hope she can return there,' he said.

SS Robin, which is the third core collection ship in the capital alongside the Cutty Sark and HMS Belfast, used to be moored in London's Docklands but was moved by the Trust so that the area could be drained to make way for a Crossrail station, and Crossrail are funding the renovation project.

The SS Robin has been in Lowestoft for two years being restored by specialists from Southwold-based Harbour Marine Services.