The National Maritime Museum’s large glass-covered central court is to reopen in June, just over a year after it closed for repairs and maintenance.

The Ocean Court closed in March 2024 to refurbish the 25-year-old roof. Since then, more than 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing have been installed over the museum’s central courtyard, preventing overheating in warmer climates.

The museum has now confirmed that it will reopen to the public on Saturday 7th June to celebrate World Ocean Day.

When it opens, a new floor map will help address ocean blindness by refocusing perspectives away from the continents, as with the traditional Mercator map. Instead, the new Spilhaus Projection, or a map of the world according to fish, shows one, interconnected ocean. It will also represent the ocean depth and key features including the Mariana Trench and Great Barrier Reef.

Tim May, Curator of Maps and Mobilities, said “The world is 71% ocean, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at a standard world map. What’s great about the new Ocean Map is that it encourages us to consider the world from a different perspective, one which reclaims the importance of the ocean on which we all depend.”

Two new objects will highlight the impact humans can have on the oceans. A fragment of the MV Sea Empress’s hull will serve as a reminder of the impact oil spills can have on the ocean environment. The MV Sea Empress ran aground off Milford Haven in Wales on 15 February 1996, spilling over 70,000 tons of crude oil. It was estimated that a third of Common Scoter ducks died and the local starfish population fell by 97.5%.

The binnacle from Greenpeace’s first ship, the Rainbow Warrior will also go on display. A binnacle holds navigational instruments on a ship. The Rainbow Warrior was a trawler purchased by Greenpeace in 1978 and was bombed by French agents in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985, sinking the ship ahead of a protest against nuclear testing in Moruroa.

To mark the court’s reopening, the National Maritime Museum will host events across the summer to celebrate the importance of the ocean to our climate, our histories and our cultures.