THE director of the Council for British Archaeology says Newport’s medieval ship could benefit the city in the same way the Mary Rose has done for Portsmouth.

Speaking to the Argus, Dr Mike Heyworth said: “The conservation work is not far away from completion.

"When the ship can hopefully be made open to the public in some way, it will bring new people to Newport.

"Hopefully it can be part of a wider regeneration. There’s a real opportunity for Newport to really influence its own economy.

"When we talk about the cost, it’s important to think of it as an investment.”

The Newport ship was found during construction of the Riverfront Theatre and Gallery in 2002. It dates back to around 1450 and is thought to have been built in the Basque area of Spain before being moored on the banks of the River Usk.

Friends of the Newport Ship estimate the conservation process should be complete by 2017, and hope the ship can then be displayed in a new museum.

But the ship’s future in the city is uncertain.

When Newport Council’s lease on its unit in Maesglas Industrial Estate expires in October 2014, timbers from the ship may have to go to Portsmouth or York if alternative storage cannot be found closer to home.

Neither is there funding yet agreed for a new museum.

Dr Heyworth said: “It was one of the largest ships we know of from that period.

The crucial thing is to make sure we finish this work so that the timbers are preserved.

What I hope they will be able to do is work with a whole range of partners to create a vision to make the investment deliver for Newport.”

He pointed to the Mary Rose in Portsmouth as an example of the benefits a historic ship could bring, adding: “We want the ship safe in Wales.”

The Mary Rose was King Henry VIII’s flagship, recovered from the Solent off Portsmouth. More than 52,000 visitors have visited the new Mary Rose Museum since it was opened on May 31 this year.

As part of the Festival of Archaeology, there will be a free open day for the Newport Ship on July 27.

There will also be events across South Wales and the rest of the UK, including excavation open days, guided walks, tours and workshops.

The festival started on Saturday and will continue until July 28.

For more information, visit www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk