Her gleaming green hull and distinctive funnel and rigging have long stood as a symbol to the famous fishing past of Norfolk's east coast.
But the Lydia Eva - the world's last remaining steam drifter - could be at risk of a sedentary future, if an important pair of hands cannot be found to take the helm.
The volunteers who look after the 84-year-old fishing boat are in desperate need of a qualified skipper who can take her out to sea, on the popular trips she runs every year from her dock on Great Yarmouth's quayside.
And they are particularly keen to recruit a master mariner as they hope to cast nets from her this year and bring hauls of herring back to the town.
She joined the Yarmouth's herring fleet as a new contemporary who had been specifically designed to be more efficient than other boats, and landed her last catch in December 1938.
After a 75 year gap, volunteers are now hoping to bring herring ashore once more from her decks - but first they have to find someone who can lead her into the North Sea.
John Russell, the ship's manager, said: 'We have got plenty of volunteers and crew but we need a qualified skipper in order to take her out, and there appears to be a shortage of those.
'We have to hunt around and it's getting more and more difficult to find people.
'I have got one person down in London who's interested but of course it's getting him up here and paying his expenses. If I can find someone local that would be preferable.'
The charitable trust that looks after the boat is keen to run fishing trips on the Eva, as nets have not been cast from her since her restoration.
'We have still got one smokehouse left in Yarmouth and I popped down to see them. The chap was quite willing, if we caught any herring, to smoke them and sell them as caught by the Lydia Eva,' Mr Russell said.
'It would be great if we could.'
The Lydia Eva lowers her gangplank to visitors from April - October and welcomes scores of people aboard. And on trips out to sea visitors get the chance to experience all aspects of life on board, from taking the wheel to stoking her coal fire.
Mr Russell said four trips for the 2014 season had already been booked, but if a skipper could not be found they would have to be cancelled.
He said: 'Skippers who have taken charge in the past have been delighted to have had the opportunity to sail a slice of Norfolk's maritime heritage.
'It's the only surviving example of a steam herring drifter so it's an important boat.'
? The Eva needs a skipper with a minimum qualification of either RYA Yachtmaster Offshore or MCA Master 200. Anyone with these qualifications and interested in taking the helm should contact Mr Russell on 01493 780636 or by emailing johnrussell112@btinternet.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here