boathouse at its West End facility.

The Development Applications Board granted planning permission for the project during their February 5 meeting which prompted museum director Dr. Edward Harris to declare yesterday: "That's fantastic.'' He explained the new boathouse would be used to house the historic boat, Dainty -- a 37-foot-long yawl built out of Bermuda cedar 100 years ago.

Dr. Harris said the boat was originally owned by Wilbur Kempe who recently passed away. It had to be restored after Hurricane Emily damaged it in 1987.

When the museum gained possession of it, Dainty was transported to Dockyard and was lifted over the walls of the fortress into the facility.

However the buildings there were unable to accommodate the large boat so the new building was being built to provide a home for it and other small boats.

It would also provide second floor wheelchair access to other buildings nearby helping to enhance the museum's displays with Dainty as the centre piece.

The DAB also approved planning permission for a temporary enclosure for the vessel, new stairs and a fire escape for the administration building and an entrance company for the museum's new theatre.

It stressed that before building could start an application for a building permit had to be made and approved.